Project Grant 15VSWTX005

EL PASO, TEXAS IS A VERY POOR COMMUNITY WITH LIMITED RESOURCES FOR THE GENERAL POPULATION. PROJECT AMISTAD PROPOSES TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH 3 VISTA MEMBERS, WHICH INCLUDES ONE COST SHARE TO PROVIDE OVERSIGHT TO THE SUSTAINABILITY TO THE VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT PROGRAM (VRP), WHILE CONTINUING TO DEVELOP AND SUSTAIN A FUND DEVELOPMENT PROCESS. THE VISTA'S WILL CONTINUE TO SUSTAIN THE VRP, THEREFORE BUILDING A SYSTEM THAT WILL ALLOW THE PROCESS OF ADVOCATING AND MENTORING VETERANS, THE ELDERLY AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES TO ENSURE THEY HAVE ALL SERVICES THEY ARE ENTITLED TO. VETERANS ARE REQUIRED TO CHECK IN WITH THE VETERAN'S ASSOCIATION ANNUALLY TO CONTINUE RECEIVING SERVICES. WHEN THIS HAS LAPSED (DUE TO MISINFORMATION, IGNORANCE REGARDING REQUIREMENTS, OR INDIGENCE AND THE LOSS OF ALL PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION), THE DOCUMENTS VERIFYING PRIOR SERVICE ARE ESSENTIAL IN THE PROCESS OF REINSTATING THEIR SUPPORT SERVICES. OUR CONCERN IS THAT MOST OF OUR VETERANS THAT ARE INDIGENT AND/OR HOMELESS HAVE LIMITED AWARENESS OF THE OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO THEM. THE VISTAS WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP STRATEGIES AND SYSTEMS THEREBY IMPROVING THE LIVES OF ALL THAT WE SERVE AT PROJECT AMISTAD. THE VRP WILL THEN SUPPORT THE ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS. THE GUARDIANSHIP PROGRAM HAS APPROXIMATELY 400 INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE BEEN DEEMED AS INDIGENT AND INCAPACITATED AND NOT ABLE TO CARE FOR THEMSELVES. THE COUNTY OF EL PASO PROBATE COURT CONTRACTS WITH PROJECT AMISTAD TO ENSURE THESE INDIVIDUALS HAVE PROFESSIONAL GUARDIANS THAT CAN ADVOCATE FOR THEIR DAILY NEEDS. HAVING VOLUNTEERS FOR THIS PROGRAM WILL ALLOW MORE ACCOUNTABILITY AND OVERSIGHT WITHIN A VERY VULNERABLE POPULATION. MANY OF OUR CLIENTS ARE VULNERABLE DUE TO LACK OF TRANSPORTATION, THE INABILITY TO PAY FOR THEIR MEDICATIONS DUE TO POVERTY, ACCESS TO THEIR FOLLOW-UP APPOINTMENTS POST-DISCHARGE FROM THE HOSPITAL, LIVING ARRANGEMENTS, ETC. BUILDING UPON THE VOLUNTEER AND INTERN PROGRAM WILL PROVE TO BE ADVANTAGEOUS TO ALL INVOLVED. ANOTHER COMPONENT TO PROJECT AMISTAD IS THE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM. TRANSPORTATION IS A COMPLEX SYSTEM THAT THROUGH VARIOUS ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS HAS PROVEN TO BE ONE OF THE GREATEST NEEDS THAT MANY OF OUR CLIENTS HAVE. MANY OF THE CLIENTS THAT QUALIFY FOR TRANSPORTATION SERVICES ARE VERY VULNERABLE TO THEIR DISABILITY OR HEALTH DISPARITIES. BEING ABLE TO BUILD A POOL OF VOLUNTEERS THAT CAN ASSIST OUR CLIENTS ON THE BUS, WOULD ALSO BE BENEFICIAL. MANY OF THE CLIENTS COME FROM THEIR DIALYSIS APPOINTMENTS, THEREFORE HAVING A VOLUNTEER ON THE BUS WOULD ASSIST THE DRIVER IN KNOWING UP TO DATE INFORMATION REGARDING HOW THE CLIENTS ARE DOING. IN ALL THE AFOREMENTIONED PROGRAMS, MANY OF OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE BEING SERVED. THIS WOULD INCLUDE WORKING WITH THE VOLUNTEERS AND INTERNS THAT HAVE BEEN RECRUITED TO ENSURE THE MISSION IS MET, WHICH IS TO SERVE AND ADVOCATE FOR VETERANS, ELDERLY, PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AND PERSONS AT RISK, THEREFORE, IMPROVING THEIR OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE. THE VISTAS WILL CONTINUE TO BROADEN THE VRP TO ALL PROGRAMMATIC ASPECTS OF VOLUNTEERISM WITH THE AGENCY AND ASSIST WITH THE PLANNING OF VARIOUS FUNCTIONS FOR OUR CLIENTS. THE MAJORITY OF OUR CLIENTS ARE INDIGENT, ELDERLY AND/OR HAVE A DISABILITY THEREFORE THE 3 REQUESTED VISTAS OVER A 12 MONTH TIME SPAN WILL ULTIMATELY STRENGTHEN A COMMUNITY THAT IS RIDDLED WITH LESS OPPORTUNITIES. WITH THE VETERAN'S IDENTITY PROJECT (VIP), ALL OF THOSE REFERRED TO PA WILL BE VETTED THROUGH APPROPRIATE CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS TO VALIDATE THEIR STATUS AS PRIOR SERVICE MEMBERS, AND THEN AIDED IN RE-ESTABLISHING THAT ASPECT OF THEIR IDENTITY VIA REGENERATION OF THE DOCUMENTS NEEDED TO PROVE TIME IN SERVICE. WITH SUCH VALIDATION, VETERANS CAN THEN REGISTER WITH THE LOCAL VA TO RE-ESTABLISH THEIR ACCESS TO SUPPORT SERVICES. THE VA IN TURN QUALIFIES FOR MORE FUNDING, WHICH THEN ASSISTS THE COMMUNITY WITH LESS FINANCIAL BURDEN. THE VISTA PROJECT WILL HELP SUPPORT THE EDUCATIONAL AND OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES DESPERATELY NEE