Orange County NC Website
Exhibit A- continued <br /> Provider's Outside Agency Application <br /> MAIN APPLICATION <br /> Program/Project Description (Label your responses as outlined below; not to exceed 3 pages.) <br /> Please provide the following information about the proposed program/project: <br /> b) Summarize the program services proposed and how the program will address the chosen <br /> Town/County priority? <br /> As described in section one, the Client Services program will provide crisis intervention services to survivors of sexual <br /> violence, their loved ones, and professionals who support survivors, Our services include our 24-Hour Help Line, <br /> support groups, workshops,and therapy referrals. <br /> Our program intersects with the Town/County priority for affordable healthcare as well as the priority for affordable <br /> housing.With regards to accessible healthcare,all of our services are free and confidential.As a free resource and with <br /> a strong agency commitment to accessibility for all, we provide crisis intervention and mental healthcare to people <br /> across all demographics in Orange County, including low-income residents who can't afford healthcare elsewhere. <br /> With regards to affordable housing, the connection between sexual violence and homelessness is well-documented, <br /> People with housing needs are more likely to experience violence and less likely to be able to afford healthcare. With <br /> our services being free,and with our location on a public bus line,our support is accessible for this high-risk population. <br /> c) Describe the local need or problem to be addressed in relation to the Consolidated Plan or <br /> other community priorities (i.e. Council/Board Goals). Cite local data to support the need for <br /> this program and the population being served. <br /> The 2010 National Intimate Partner Survey (NISVS) from the CDC found that 1 in 5 women in the United States are <br /> raped in their lifetime. It also found that nearly 1 in 2 women and 1 in 5 men experience some form of sexual violence <br /> other than rape, such as sexual coercion, unwanted touch, sexual harassment, and more.Although local crime statistics <br /> are difficult to obtain for any jurisdiction, our experience corroborates this finding and illustrates the need for sexual <br /> violence services. The OCRCC served 524 people last fiscal year. In that time, we had a total of 2,453 contacts, <br /> meaning that we saw each client an average of 4.7 times. <br /> The long-term effects of sexual violence can be profound and may include depression, anxiety, physical illness, <br /> substance abuse,eating disorders,suicidal thoughts and attempts,self-harming behaviors,and more.All of these factors <br /> can make it difficult for survivors to function on a daily basis, obtain and keep a job, and maintain safe housing. One <br /> study found that 50% of sexual assault victims lost their jobs or were forced to quit after being raped (Ellis, Atkeson, & <br /> Calhoun, 1993). Additionally, the abuse itself can cause a housing situation to become unsafe for individuals, such as <br /> when an intimate partner is the abuser. According to the Department of Justice, more than 50% of all sexual violence <br /> incidents occur at the victim's home or within one mile of their home. <br /> In terms of mental healthcare access, Mental Health America(MHA) reports that 2.6%of adults with mental illness and <br /> 12.3% of children with emotional/behavioral/developmental issues in North Carolina do not have consistent health <br /> insurance. But even with insurance,mental healthcare is lacking:MHA reports that 20.2%of adults with mental illness in <br /> North Carolina said they did not get the mental health services they needed and an astounding 45.7%of children who <br /> needed mental health services in North Carolina did not receive them. With affordable therapeutic resources lacking in <br /> our community and across the nation, OCRCC is committed to providing free short- and long-term services to all who <br /> need them, regardless of income level. <br /> With regards to housing access, sexual violence and homelessness are strongly connected. One study found that 92% <br /> of homeless mothers had experienced severe physical and/or sexual violence at some point in their lives; 43%of them <br /> had experienced sexual abuse as a child (Browne & Bassuk, 1997). Furthermore, if survivors are on the verge of <br /> homelessness or become homeless, their risk for experiencing additional violence increases. According to a study of <br /> homeless and marginally housed people, 32% of women, 27% of men, and 38% of transgendered people reported <br /> either physical or sexual victimization in the previous year(Kushel et al., 2003). As the local governments work toward <br /> improving housing access,our services will be needed and will increase the likelihood of success. <br /> Main Application 1/25/2016 12:55.42 PM Page 7 of 32 <br />