COMMUNICARE

LSJA has pivoted rapidly to continue supporting our RISE and SCCIP participants during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our CommuniCare strategy struck a balance between providing services and following social distancing guidelines for the safety of our staff and participants.  
  • As of March 13th, Buildings were officially closed per county direction  
  • Secured telecommunication for participants to continue providing peer support and counseling  
  • Secured temporary housing for all housing insecure participants  
  • Began building an app to stay connected with participants which is to launch soon 
  • Town Hall with participants instructing them on health consequences of COVID-19 and legal requirements of stay in place orders.  
  • Reviewed current individual care plans to assure compliance was possible given closures by our partners and supplemented new services when others were not available  

SUPPORTIVE PARTNERS

LSJA has partnered with organization to provide financial support and advice to our RISE and SCCIP participants  
  • Through the Stand Together Foundation’s #GiveTogetherNow campaign, LSJA has been able to provide support to many of our participants who have been financially impacted by COVID-19.  
  • Eligible participants from our RISE and SCCIP program received a onetime $500 direct cash assistance to meet their needs.  
  • LSJA has partnered with the Financial Literacy Coalition of Central Texas (FLCCT) to guide participants towards financial health in the face of this economic downturn.  
  • The FLCCT will provide participants with financial advice for managing both our LSJA’s cash transfer and the stimulus checks many just received. ​

ADVOCACY

Many prison and jail systems across the country are especially vulnerable to the COVID-19 virus since they are often challenged by poor conditions and overcrowding. LSJA and many other groups organized to advocate for the safety of young people detained in the Travis country juvenile justice system.  
  • LSJA, MEASURE, Texas Appleseed, the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition wrote a letter to Travis County that described the heath concerns and solutions of individuals in the youth justice system.  
  • LSJA co-hosted a webinar with City of Austin and Travis County authorities to continue advocating for the safety of young people in their facilities. 

LINKS TO BEST NATIONAL PRACTICES  ​