Project Grant 00A01314

DESCRIPTION:THE AGREEMENT PROVIDES FUNDING TO THE REFUGEE DEVELOPMENT CENTER. THE RECIPIENT WILL INCREASE AWARENESS ABOUT LEAD SAFETY AND DECREASE THE INCIDENCE OF LEAD POISONING AMONG REFUGEES IN RHODE ISLAND. THE PROJECT WILL ADDRESS THE LACK OF PUBLIC AWARENESS SURROUNDING LEAD POISONING AND LEAD SAFETY AMONG REFUGEES IN RHODE ISLAND. IT ALSO SEEKS TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF REFUGEES LIVING IN UNSAFE HOUSING, IMPROVE INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND REDUCE THE INCIDENCE OF LEAD POISONING AMONG REFUGEES. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE EDUCATION, OUTREACH AND TRAINING TO RAISE AWARENESS OF LEAD IN HOMES FROM MANY SOURCES TO TENANTS AND HOMEOWNERS ATTENTION, HIGHLIGHTING SIGNS OF LEAD POISONING IN CHILDREN, SHARING INFORMATION ON HOW TO MAKE HOMES LEAD-SAFE AND HOW TO PREVENT LEAD EXPOSURE, SHARING TENANT RIGHTS INFORMATION, HELPING REFUGEES REVIEW CONTRACTS WITH THEIR LANDLORDS BEFORE MOVING IN, AND PROVIDING ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO REFUGEES AND THEIR FAMILIES TO PROTECT CHILDREN'S HEALTH.ACTIVITIES:THIS GRANT WILL COVER FOUR MAIN ACTIVITIES: CONDUCTING LEAD SAFETY AND INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY FOCUSED HOME VISITS, PROVIDING CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES, CREATING A REFUGEE HOUSING SUPPORT WORKGROUP, AND HOSTING QUARTERLY MEETINGS WITH REFUGEE DREAM CENTER STAFF AND THE STATE REFUGEE COORDINATOR. REFUGEE DREAM CENTER WILL INCREASE AWARENESS ABOUT LEAD SAFETY BY CONDUCTING HOME VISITS TO REFUGEE POPULATIONS RESIDING IN PROVIDENCE, PAWTUCKET AND WOONSOCKET, RHODE ISLAND. IN ADDITION TO HOME VISITS, REFUGEE DREAM CENTER WILL ENGAGE WITH LOCAL LANDLORDS TO ENSURE THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE INDOOR ENVIRONMENT INCLUDING LEAD SAFETY TO PROTECT FAMILIES AND CHILDREN FROM ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC HEALTH RISKS. THE CASE MANAGEMENT TEAM WILL ALSO PROVIDE SUPPORT SERVICES TO EXISTING TENANTS AND FAMILIES. REFUGEE DREAM CENTER WILL HOST QUARTERLY REVIEW MEETINGS WITH THE REFUGEE HOUSING SUPPORT WORKGROUP TO BRING TOGETHER A DIVERSE GROUP OF PARTNERS AND STAKEHOLDERS TO REVIEW AND DISCUSS LEAD SAFETY CONCERNS AMONG REFUGEES. PARTICIPANTS OF THE MEETING WILL INCLUDE THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH STATE REFUGEE HEATH COORDINATOR, THE RHODE ISLAND COMMISSION ON PREJUDICE AND BIAS, AND REFUGEE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE AFFECTED BY LEAD AND POOR INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY. THE MEETING WILL PROVIDE SPACE TO DISCUSS COMMUNITY UPDATES AND TO POOL RESOURCES TO ADDRESS REFUGEE CONCERNS. REFUGEE DREAM CENTER WILL CONDUCT QUARTERLY MEETINGS WITH THE BREAKER BARRIERS MEMBERS (A GROUP MADE UP OF COMMUNITY LEADERS AND CULTURAL BROKERS), REFUGEE DREAM CENTER'S CASE WORKERS, AND THE STATE REFUGEE COORDINATOR TO INCREASE COMMUNICATION, COORDINATION AND JOINT ACTION. SUBRECIPIENT:A SUBAWARD IN THE AMOUNT OF $18,000.00 WILL BE MADE TO KELLY FINANCIAL SERVICES TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WILL BOOKKEEPING FOR THE DURATION OF THE PROJECT PERIOD. OUTCOMES:THIS PROJECT WILL PROVIDE REFUGEE DREAM CENTER FUNDS TO INCREASE INFORMATION SHARING ACROSS PROVIDENCE, PAWTUCKET, AND WOONSOCKET, RHODE ISLAND. IT WILL INCREASE COLLABORATIVE AND INTEGRATED CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO REFUGEES IN THE AREA WHO ARE FACING LEAD HAZARDS AND POOR INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY IN THEIR HOME ENVIRONMENT AND LIVES. THE OUTREACH AND COORDINATION WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS WILL INCREASE REFERRALS AND SUPPORT SERVICES TO REFUGEE POPULATIONS IN PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND ON A RANGE OF ISSUES. THE OUTCOMES OF THIS GRANT INCLUDE 720 HOME VISITS TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS, DISTRIBUTING EDUCATIONAL AND OUTREACH INFORMATION, AND 13 MEETINGS WITH THE REFUGEE HOUSING SUPPORT WORKGROUP. THE PROJECT AIMS TO INCREASE LANDLORD COMPLIANCE WITH LEAD CODE AND INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL HOUSING REQUIREMENTS IN RHODE ISLAND, INCREASE ENGAGEMENT OF REFUGEES IN THE IMPORTANCE OF LEAD SAFETY AWARENESS AND IMPROVING INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, INCREASED SCREENING AND EVALUATION OF REFUGEE CHILDREN AGES 0-16 FOR LEAD BY THE DEPARTMENT AND HEALTH, AND INCREASE COORDINATION BETWEEN STATE PARTNERS TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF CULTURALLY REL