Project Grant NUF2CE002545

RPE - ASSESSING COALITION CAPACITY TO ADVANCE PRIMARY PREVENTION - SEXUAL VIOLENCE IS ASSOCIATED WITH POOR HEALTH OUTCOMES (PHYSICAL AND MENTAL), AND THIS IS OFTEN EXACERBATED BY INEQUITIES THAT MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES MOST OFTEN AFFECTED BY IT FACE. TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM, NJCASA WILL CONDUCT A PRIMARY PREVENTION CAPACITY ASSESSMENT OF READINESS TO PLAN FOR AND IMPLEMENT A SERIES OF EQUITY-FOCUSED STRATEGIES; ADDITIONALLY, WE WILL DEVELOP AND SHARE RECOMMENDATIONS AND ACTION STEPS TO PROMOTE HEALTH EQUITY BASED ON OUR ASSESSMENT FINDINGS. THROUGHOUT, WE WILL USE A DATA-CENTERED APPROACH, AND PROJECT ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE ASSESSING EXISTING PARTNERSHIPS TO DETERMINE GAPS, AS WELL AS IDENTIFYING COLLABORATIVE OPPORTUNITIES TO ADVANCE HEALTH EQUITY ACROSS A NETWORK OF PARTNERS TO MAXIMIZE PROJECT IMPACT. THIS PROCESS WILL CULMINATE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF EVIDENCE-BASED RECOMMENDATIONS AND ACTION STEPS TO ADVANCE SEXUAL VIOLENCE PRIMARY PREVENTION ACTIVITIES THAT ALSO ADDRESS HEALTH INEQUITIES, SPECIFICALLY ONES WHICH CAN BE CARRIED OUT IN COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO EXPAND OUR REACH. FURTHERMORE, THE PROJECT WILL DELVE INTO NUANCED ASPECTS OF NJCASA'S EXISTING WORK, SUCH AS EVALUATING THE ORGANIZATION'S POLICY CAPACITY AND RELATED AREAS THAT NEED TO BE STRENGTHENED, INCLUDING STAFF KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITY TO ENGAGE WITH LEGISLATURE TO INCREASE OUR IMPACT AROUND HEALTH EQUITY. IT WILL ALSO INCLUDE ASSESSING CULTURAL COMPETENCY AND CULTURAL HUMILITY, AS PER OUR CURRENT EVIDENCE-BASED OFFERINGS, TO DETERMINE IF THEY ARE HAVING THE DESIRED EFFECT ON OUR COMMUNITIES AND IF THEY ARE ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE. FINALLY, IT WILL EXPLORE COLLABORATIONS WITH NON-TRADITIONAL PARTNERS TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN MAINSTREAM SYSTEMS AND HYPER-LOCAL COMMUNITY-ROOTED SPACES OF INTERACTION WHERE IDEAS AND MESSAGES ARE REINFORCED, SUCH AS BARBERSHOPS AND HAIR SALONS.