HUMAN OPTIONS, COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMS INC. AND THE LGBT CENTER

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Service Partnership, and the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force. The two agencies have been able to collaborate in a way that avoids the duplication of services and allows for the leveraging of each other's expertise when working with victims who have experienced complex trauma. Cross referrals occur regularly between the programs; Human Options refers clients to CSP for sexual assault counseling services and CSP refers clients to Human Options for shelter and other domestic violence victim services. Human Options and CSP currently participate in the Women's Health Project as lead service providers in the areas of curriculum development and public service awareness. The LGBT Center OC is a nonprofit agency that started as a volunteer group in 1971 and incorporated as a nonprofit in 1975. Its mission is to advocate on behalf of the Orange County lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer /questioning (LGBTQ) community, and to provide services that ensure its well -being and positive identity. The LGBT Center OC is the second oldest and I 11 largest LGBT center in the nation. The LGBT Center OC programs emphasize five strategic focus areas: advocacy and social justice, strengthening youth, improving health/wellness, increasing social support, and seniors. Services include outreach, consultation, psychotherapy, support groups, capacity - building workshops, and referrals. All programs and services are conducted within the context of unconditional acceptance of sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and cultural diversity. Through workshops, community outreach, presentations and the focus on youth leadership development, the LGBT Center OC continues to support the community in making life- affirming choices that are consistent with a positive self - image and a sense of self - efficacy. Through advocacy, outreach and education initiatives, The LGBT Center OC works to raise awareness and acceptance of LGBTQ people, and protect and defend LGBTQ rights through system change. The LGBT Center OC remains the most comprehensive health and social service organization specifically targeting Orange County's LGBTQ community, and is proud to serve not only the LGBTQ community, but also their friends and family. Human Options and The LGBT Center OC have a long history of overlapping interests as social service agencies in Orange County, CA, but have never entered into a formal partnership before this grant proposal. Both organizations are members of the Orange County Women's Health Project, Health and Domestic Violence Taskforce which has been convening since 2011. As a result of taskforce efforts, Blue Shield of Southern California has funded a three year project aimed at training health care providers across the county to appropriately screen for, and respond to, domestic violence. Human Options is a funded strategy lead for this effort and is responsible for developing and administering a comprehensive curriculum to health care providers on the intersection of domestic violence and health. The LGBT Center OC has expressed interest in offering this training to their staff. As a result of these interactions, Human Options and The LGBT Center OC have strengthened their relationship and subsequently are now entering into a formal partner relationship as a result of this grant proposal. This proposal presented the unique opportunity to engage in a collaborative effort that has the potential to provide an increase in intervention and prevention services to a traditionally underserved community (LGBTQ youth within Santa Ana), and develop meaningful and lasting change within the community. Memorandum of Understanding Page 3