Volume I Issue
1 May/June 2000NLS RECEIVES GRANT
FROM DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
The United States Department of Justice, under the Violence Against Women Act, awarded $272,856 to Neighborhood Legal Services , Inc. (NLS), and its partners, Haven House, and Volunteer Lawyers Project, Inc., to assist victims of domestic violence with civil legal problems. This is part of $21.9 million granted nationally to strengthen civil legal assistance for domestic violence victims. According to Janet Reno, U.S. Attorney General, “These funds will allow organizations to improve victims’ access to attorneys and advocates, often at no cost, to help women navigate the civil legal system.”
These funds can be used to not only help victims with Orders of Protections and divorces, but with support, access to benefits, health care, housing, eviction matters, and matters related to employment. The goal is to provide a comprehensive approach to serving victims of domestic violence. Said Bonnie Campbell, Director of the Office of Justice Programs’ (OJP) Violence Against Women Office (VAWO), “By helping battered women address issues related to their financial and safety concerns, we’re giving them the autonomy they need to end the violence.”
Throughout the State of New York and the entire country, groups have received this funding.
More information about the efforts of the Department of Justice to combat violence against women can be found at its website, http:\www.ojp.usdoj.gov.
This article was written with the help of information obtained through this website.
INAUGURAL ISSUE OF NEWSLETTER
This newsletter is the inaugural effort by Haven House, Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc., and Volunteer Lawyers Project, Inc., to provide information to the community and to agencies regarding the civil legal services available to victims of domestic violence in Erie County. Your feedback and suggestions for future articles are welcome. You can reach us at Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc., 295 Main St., Rm. 495, Buffalo, NY 14203 or by email at snosenchuck@ nls.org.
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT
The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) was an act passed by the US Congress in 1994 to stop domestic violence, sexual assault, and the stalking of women.
Facts about Domestic Violence*
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROJECT AT FAMILY COURT
The Domestic Violence Project (D.V.P.) in Erie County Family Court was established to assist victims of domestic violence in exploring their legal options and in navigating the Family Court system.
Imagine, for a minute, the emotions involved in being victimized by domestic violence: fear, disbelief, and confusion. Add to this the often intimidating and frustrating experience of accessing relief through the legal system. Advocates for victims of domestic violence have long been aware that clients are frequently frightened as well as uninformed as to their legal options and the procedures involved in obtaining legal relief. The Domestic Violence Project (D.V.P.) in Erie County Family Court was established to assist victims of domestic violence in exploring their legal options and in navigating the Family Court system.
The D.V.P. is a joint endeavor between Child and Family Services Haven House Project, and Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc., and is made possible via funding through the Violence Against Women Act, Erie County Department of Social Services and the United Way, with the cooperation of Erie County Family Court.
Implemented on April 1, 1996, the D.V.P. is currently staffed by one full-time advocate, with an additional part-time advocate slated to begin assisting soon, and by one full-time and one part-time attorney. Services offered include professional guidance, advocacy with the Court and with other helping agencies, information as to both Family and criminal court procedures, safety planning, crisis counseling, emotional support and empowerment and referrals to such auxiliary services as emergency shelter and support groups. Legal advice and representation are provided by the Project’s attorneys, both of whom are experienced in handling domestic violence cases and with the Family Court system. Since its implementation, the Domestic Violence Project has become an integral part of the Family Court process and has earned respect among clients, service providers and throughout the community. In 1999, the staff of the D.V.P. proudly assisted 1, 615 clients in their quest to live lives free of violence.
—Kelly Clifford, MSW
Domestic Violence Advocate
NLS has a wide variety of services available for victims of domestic violence.
Under this grant received from the Department of Justice, NLS can provide holistic civil legal services to victims of domestic violence. If a client needs representation on an Order of Protection, custody, visitation, and support matters in Family Court, NLS can provide legal representation. If a client needs the services of an attorney for a divorce in Supreme Court, representation can be provided as well. Not every case can be accepted by NLS. Evaluation is made on a case by case basis to determine if clients qualify, both financially and legally, for representation. For clients who are resident at Haven House, services can be accessed through the Volunteer Lawyers Project Haven House Clinic.
The purpose of the representation is to provide clients with attorneys who are available to represent them not only with their legal problems with Family and Supreme Court, but on housing and benefits problems as well. Clients can access the legal services provided by the Family Unit at Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc. (NLS) in several different ways.
Under the grant received from the Department of Justice, NLS can provide holistic civil legal services to victims of domestic violence.
ECBA VOLUNTEER LAWYERS PROJECT :
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INTAKE PROJECT
VLP is a not-for-profit corporation which provides free civil legal services to low income individuals and small not-for-profit groups in Erie County. This is accomplished by recruiting, training, coordinating and assisting attorneys who volunteer to represent VLP's clients on a pro bono basis. Approximately 800 attorneys in Erie County volunteer through VLP.
The purpose of VLP’s Haven House Legal Clinic is to reach out to victims of domestic violence in a setting in which they feel comfortable and provide them with the legal advice needed to help them to overcome a feeling of helplessness, to realize their legal options and to plug into the legal services that are available to assist them.
Most of the clients who are assisted by this outreach program have recently moved into Haven House. They are in a terribly emotional and confusing time in their lives. They may have left all of their possessions behind, they may be faced with the need to apply for public assistance and child support for the first time.
This project is operated by VLP in cooperation with Haven House (which is the largest shelter for battered women in Erie County), the SUNY at Buffalo School of Law Legal Assistance Program, the WNY Chapter of the Women's Bar Association of NY and NLS.
In Erie County, there are many programs and systems set up to assist victims of domestic violence. The purpose of this project is to provide counsel and advice to the women on site and to help facilitate their being referred to the proper agency for the follow up assistance that is required. Sometimes that means an expedited referral to NLS for assistance. Other times it involves further representation and/or assistance by VLP’s staff and volunteers. In other cases, it means providing information about obtaining assistance from the Assigned Counsel Program.
For many of the women, it is the first time that they have ever spoken to an attorney to find out what legal rights and options they have. By bringing the pro bono attorneys to the victims in conjunction with Haven House, the assistance is provided in overcoming the difficult hurdle of taking the first steps to break the cycle of violence.
For attorneys that volunteer, the clinic provides an alternative pro bono opportunity. Not only does it involve working exclusively with victims of domestic violence, but it allows attorneys to block out a few hours after 5 p.m. to do their pro bono work. This is particularly appealing to attorneys who find it difficult or impossible to get away between 9 and 5 to do pro bono work.
For further information about this project, call Bob Elardo at VLP (847-0662).
UPCOMING TRAINING FOR ATTORNEYS
Under the VAWA grant, NLS, Volunteer Lawyers Project and Child & Family Services Haven House, is developing a Domestic Violence Training for Attorneys. This two-part, six-hour training will be offered, free of charge, at three different times throughout the year and will provide CLE credit.
This training is unique in that it does not focus on statutes and case law, but is designed to educate attorneys on the important role they play in stopping the cycle of violence and protecting victims.
Whether or not aware of it, most attorneys have represented a victim of partner abuse. Understanding the dynamics of domestic violence, learning intervention and empowerment techniques, and awareness of available resources can assist attorneys in their representation of clients and can help to save the lives of victims.
For more information, contact Keith Morgenheim at NLS at 847-0650.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc. 847-0650
Volunteer Lawyers Project 847-0662
Haven House 884-6002
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