Equal Access Advocacy Project for Crime Victims Across Kentucky

The FY 19 Enhancing Language and Other Access to Services Program seeks to enrich language access services for crime victims to break down barriers that prevent many individuals from reporting crimes and accessing the services they need after crime victimization. Funding will support the provision of direct services, the development of language access plans, and will expand the capacity of community-based organizations to address the needs of victims of crime who are blind, visually impaired, limted English proficient (LEP), Deaf or hard-of hearing.

Catholic Charities of Louisville (CCL) will implement the Equal Access Advocacy Project (EAAP) to increase access to services for crime victims who are Limited English Proficient (LEP), Deaf, hard of hearing, blind and/or vision impaired across the state of Kentucky. CCL’s Language Services Program will work with partners to remove access barriers by providing language assistance, victim advocacy, and outreach. This two-year project will increase the capacity of victim service providers and interpreters through development of language access plans, training on language access, disability rights, trauma and victimization, and targeted interpreter certification training for indigenous and other languages with limited/no language access resources. CCL will establish a working group for this project to include victim service providers, law enforcement, prosecution, disability rights advocates, immigrant and refugee service providers, and interpreter associations.

CA/NCF