Biashelp Inc

TO PREVENT, MONITOR & LESSEN THE EFFECTS OF BIAS CRIMES, HATE-RELATED HARASSMENT & DISCRIMINATION

PROGRAMS FROM 1/2014-12/2014:OLWEUS PROGRAM: FROM JANUARY 2014 THROUGH DECEMBER 2014, BIASHELP CONTINUED PROVIDING CONSULTATION SESSIONS ONCE A MONTH FOR THE OLWEUS COORDINATING COMMITTEES OF PATCHOGUE/MEDFORD H.S. AND THE THREE MIDDLE SCHOOLS IN THAT DISTRICT. BIASHELP STAFF ASSISTED THE SCHOOLS' COORDINATING COMMITTEE IN UPDATING ITS EXISTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES REGARDING THE MANDATES OF THE DIGNITY FOR ALL STUDENTS ACT. DURING THE MONTHS OF NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2014, THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR PREPARED 72 OLWEUS COORDINATING COMMITTEE NOTEBOOKS FOR UPCOMING TRAININGS FOR THE PATCHOGUE/MEDFORD'S SEVEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. PROGRAM DIRECTOR HAS BEEN IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT AND PRINCIPALS.

OTHER FUNDING SOURCES/EDUCATION PROGRAMS - WEBSITES:OUR WEBSITE (BIASHELP.ORG) OFFERED EXTENSIVE INFORMATION FOR THOSE SEEKING FURTHER GUIDANCE ON PREVENTING AND COPING WITH BIAS, DISCRIMINATION AND VIOLENCE WITH 2,464 HITS TO OUR WEBSITE PAGES IN 2014.IN 2014, BIASHELP'S WEBSITE (STOPTECHNOBULLYING.ORG) PROVIDED INFORMATION AND INSIGHT INTO TECHNOBULLYING PHENOMENON AND A MECHANISM TO ACCESS SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE VICTIMS OF TECHNOBULLYING, WITH 8,525 PAGE VIEWS.BIASHELP CREATED A BIASHELP FACEBOOK PAGE IN 2012 TO PROVIDE THE COMMUNITIES WITH UP TO DATE STORIES ON HATE CRIMES, BULLYING, CYBERBULLYING, ANTI-SEMITISM, GAY BASHING AND TO PROVIDE AN ARENA WHERE INDIVIDUALS CAN COMMENT ON POSTING AND TO LINK TO OTHER IMPORTANT SITES. THE FACEBOOK PAGE CONTINUED TO PROVIDE SUPPORT DURING 2014.IN 2014, BIASHELP CONDUCTED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS REACHING 166 YOUTH AND 184 ADULTS IN NASSAU AND SUFFOLK COUNTIES. TOPICS INCLUDED BULLYING, TECHNOBULLYING, YOUTH VIOLENCE, STEREOTYPING AND CULTURAL SENSITIVITY. AUDIENCES OF EDUCATION PROGRAMS INCLUDED STUDENTS, PARENTS, SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS, ETC.

DCJS GRANT:IN JUNE 2014, BIASHELP WAS FUNDED BY THE NYS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES TO ASSIST LONG ISLAND SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DIGNITY FOR ALL STUDENTS ACT (DASA); ASSIST IN THE TRAINING OF ANTI-BULLYING COORDINATORS; DEVELOP ANTI-BULLYING POLICIES AND CODE OF CONDUCT INCLUDING ANGER MANAGEMENT AND ANTI-VIOLENCE SERVICES TO YOUTH PROVIDERS. IN 2014 BIASHELP CONDUCTED 24 TRAINING/ WORKSHOP SESSIONS REACHING 350 COMMUNITY MEMBERS. PROGRAMS INCLUDED: FEDERATION OF ORGANIZATIONS, SUFFOLK COALITION FOR PARENTS & CHILDREN, BAY SHORE MIDDLE SCHOOL, MERCY CENTER, GLEN COVE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB, MIDDLE COUNTRY PUBLIC LIBRARY, WARD MELVILLE H.S. AND STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY. IN 2014 BIASHELP CONDUCTED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS REACHING 166 YOUTH AND 184 ADULTS IN NASSAU AND SUFFOLK COUNTIES. TOPICS INCLUDED BULLYING, TECHNOBULLYING, YOUTH VIOLENCE, STEREOTYPING AND CULTURAL SENSITIVITY. AUDIENCE OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDED STUDENTS, PARENTS, SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS, ETC.

RE-ENTRY PROJECT:BIASHELP CONTINUES TO PLAY A PIVOTAL ROLE IN THE HEALTH IMPROVEMENTS FOR RE-ENTERING EX-OFFENDERS (HIRE) PROGRAM, A PROJECT OF THE LONG ISLAND ASSOCIATION FOR AIDS CARE, INC. (LIAAC). THE PROJECT IS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT OF THREE AGENCIES, LIAAC, BIASHELP, INC. AND THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY COUNCIL OF SUFFOLK, INC. (EOC) THAT AIDS CURRENTLY AND FORMERLY INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE INFECTED WITH HIV/AIDS OR AT-RISK OF INFECTION AND WHO ARE TRANSITIONING BACK TO NASSAU AND SUFFOLK COUNTIES FROM FEDERAL OR STATE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES. THE HIRE PROJECT PROVIDES HEALTH, ECONOMIC, AND RECIDIVISM PREVENTION SERVICES TO INCREASE SELF-SUFFICIENCY NOT ONLY FOR THE INDIVIDUAL, BUT FOR THEIR FAMILIES AS WELL. BIASHELP PROVIDES PSYCHOSOCIAL (RECIDIVISM PREVENTION) SERVICES THAT INCLUDE, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, MENTORSHIP/EDUCATION, ANGER MANAGEMENT, GANG PREVENTION, COPING SKILLS, COMMUNICATION SKILLS, AND MEDIATION AMONG FAMILY MEMBERS WHO MAY HAVE MIXED FEELINGS TOWARD/AGAINST SUPPORTING THE RETURNING INDIVIDUAL. THROUGH THIS MULTIFACETED PROGRAM, HIRE PROVIDES THE NECESSARY RESOURCES AND TOOLS TO CREATE SELF-SUFFICIENCY, ENSURE HEALTHY OUTCOMES AND SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION FOR POST-INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILIES. IN 2014, THE BIASHELP STAFF MEMBER ENCOUNTERED 221 INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE PREVIOUSLY OR CURRENTLY INCARCERATED, ADMINISTERED 90 RAPID HIV AND 68 RAPID HCV TESTS, PROVIDED 172 REFERRALS, COMPLETED 79 INTAKES INTO THE HIRE CARE COORDINATION PROGRAM AND DISTRIBUTED 2,550 CONDOMS.