| Obj. 3 Initiative 1: Develop a referral system in partnership with other local human and civil rights-focused agencies and organizations to better connect people to needed services.Human Rights |
Description |
The Office of Human Rights (OHR) frequently partners with other local and regional agencies and organizations when attempting to provide services to individuals with inquiries or complaints of discrimination. Referrals to other agencies and organizations are a vital part of the OHR's role in the community for multiple reasons:
First, the OHR is an accessible and trusted place to people in the community. It serves as a low-barrier point-of-entry for people seeking assistance with complex and sensitive human and civil rights issues. OHR staff are able to offer personal attention and a confidential intake screening in a safe space.
Second, the Charlottesville Human Rights Ordinance limits the the jurisdiction of the OHR in several ways, making referrals and collaboration (especially in the areas of employment and housing) mandatory.
Third, many individuals come to us with complex issues that go beyond complaints of discrimination and may have serious impacts on their quality of life.
With this in mind, the OHR has begun
Status | |
CY2018
The Office of Human Rights hosted preliminary discussions with multiple partners about this initiative. In CY2019, the Office of Human Rights is considering a baseline needs assessment study to determine the scope of unmet needs before embarking on the more ambitious goal of developing a means to address the issue.
CY2019
Office of Human Rights staff continue to build relationships with other local service providers. The number of contacts resulting in referrals continues to rise. Most referrals do not involve allegations of discrimination. Often an individual is looking for assistance with navigating complex systems like the affordable housing market. The referral network has therefore continued to expand to include service providers outside the realm of civil rights.
CY2020
While no formal referral system has been created, the OHR continues to build relationships with many service providers and regularly refers individuals to other agencies based on the inquiry they bring forth. OHR staff collect data regarding all referrals, as shown in Objective 1. Measure 11. There is potential to consolidate the data from referrals to create a database of referral options for easier use by new staff, as the current system relies on staff's working knowledge of the local landscape of service providers and the relationships staff have built with the staff working in local and state organizations and agencies.
Why and What it Achieves |
An inter-agency referral system will...
- Allow the OHR to efficiently connect people to appropriate services for their individual needs
- Help OHR staff better understand the services being provided locally and regionally
- Develop collaborative inter-agency relationships that ensure better service provision and knowledge-sharing