Vanderburgh Superior Court has been awarded a $700,000 grant by the Office on Violence against Women under the Justice for Families Program. Â
In partnership with Parenting Time Center, YWCA, Albion Fellows Bacon Center, Holly’s House, the Legal Aid Society, and the Volunteer Lawyer Program of Southwestern Indiana, the Grant will be used to improve the capacity of the Courts and community to respond to families affected by domestic/dating violence or stalking, sexual assault, and cases involving allegations of child sexual abuse.Â
Funding will continue operation of the Protective Order Assistance Office which provides services to those seeking help in completing applications for Protection Orders, advises victims about court procedures, delivers interpreter services, and educates domestic violence or sexual assault victims on the various resources available to them within our community. The Grant will also continue to supply Guardian ad Litem services in child custody/visitation cases where domestic violence is a factor, and to fund supervised parenting time and exchange services to domestic violence victims.Â
Additionally, the Grant will finance Civil Legal Assistance to represent victims of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault for their Protection Order Hearings. Domestic violence victims with Limited English Proficiency will be provided Spanish or Haitian Creole speaking DV Advocates to assist them. The Grant will deliver further training on the issues of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking to attorneys, Guardian ad Litems, bilingual advocates, and the Protective Order Assistance Office Staff to afford better services for victims.
