Lara Downing Email & Phone Number

Direct victim services team by recruiting, hiring, training, and supervising advocates, including three month onboard training, weekly team case reviews and weekly team training activities.Overhauled program policies to improve assessment, intervention, and evaluation of victims advocacy servicesProvide direct support services and advocacy to victims of crime in their homes, at court, in hospitals and other community settings and in collaboration with other professional disciplines including attorneys, law enforcement, and healthcare providersSupervise nine BSSW and MSW students through half and full year internshipsDevelope and presented instructional presentations for Central Ohio Sexual Assault Task Force and Sexual Assault Response Network of Central Ohio on working with survivors with limited English proficiency and partnered with local agencies to provide trauma-informed care training for interpretersPartner with other victim serving agencies on coalitions including the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board, Central Ohio Sexual Assault Task Force, Community Collaborative on Sexual Violence, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Refugee and Immigrant Committee, Sexual Assault Awareness Month Conference Planning Committee, Diversity and Inclusion for Victims in Central Ohio Collaborative Board, and Central Ohio Reach and Restore CoalitionSpearhead community level advocacy initiatives for the interests of LEP victims of crimeGrants management, including applications, acceptance, fulfilling non-fiscal reporting requirements, outcome and process evaluations

Delivered advocacy services for victims of crime with limited English proficiency, including crisis management, safety planning, information and referral, emotional support and accompaniment throughout the criminal justice process, and case management to meet collaboratively developed case goalsProvided training and supervision to a multilingual team of advocatesStandardized program practices for tracking and documenting servicesConducted outreach and education to the community and collaborating with other service providers

Providing intensive case management to recently arrived refugees who belong to identified high risk groups, including single mothers, people with disabilities, seniors, and those with high mental health needsConduct home visits and needs assessments with individuals and families, utilizing interpretation services as necessaryMake necessary referrals including primary care doctors, counselors, food pantries, employment assistance, and community groups

Conducted a community mental health needs assessment the Columbus Congolese community, including key informant interviews and focus groupsCoordinate weekly yoga class for Nepali clients, including designing and administering mental health symptom pre and post assessments and conduct outcome analysisLead weekly women’s group for Iraqi refugees, including discussions on adjustment to life in the US, mindfulness exercises, healthcare education sessions, and English lessonsMake referrals, schedule doctor appointments, and apply for transportation benefits for clientsManage and update client case filesAttend meetings with other community service organizations to represent refugee interests

Keeping records of submissions, including reviewers, acceptance rates, issue planning, and all emails sent to the Journal.Coordinating reviewers by sending review requests, review guidelines, manuscripts, and reminders for late reviewsPreparing articles for publication, including proofreading, obtaining copyright forms, and consulting with Editor in issue planning

LING 2000: Introduction to Language in the Humanities Fall 2013, Spring 2014Develop course syllabus, including planning course structure, creating assignments, scheduling readings, assigning point system and grading scale, writing quizzes and examsConduct 55 minute lectures three days per week in Fall 2013 and 120 min lectures two days per week in Spring 2014Grade all assignments

Assist Case Manager in Reception and Placement (Match Grant) program, helping refugees and asylees find jobs and get settled during their first four months in the United StatesCarrying out entrance interviews and determining qualifications for Match Grant program, ordering and distributing financial assistance to clients, assisting in job interview training, and conducting home visitsAid refugees in filling out applications and searching for jobsComplete training on United States refugee, asylum, and immigration law

Master, Social Work

Specialization: Community and Social Justice Program Evaluation: Mental Health Needs Assessment in the Columbus Congolese Community

Master Of Arts, Linguistics

Thesis: Dutchified English in an Ohio Mennonite Community

Bachelor Of Arts, Linguistics

Minor: Philosophy