Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2008, $223,587)
The Edward Byrne Memorial Discretionary Grants Program (Byrne Discretionary Program) helps local communities improve the capacity of local justice systems and provides for national support efforts. This project is authorized and funded through a line item in the FY 08 Congressional Budget. Funds should be used for purposes recommended by Congress.
Metropolitan Family Services will address the problems of domestic violence for Chicago's underserved communities. The Domestic Violence Enhancement Project will integrate legal and social services available to low-income victims of domestic violence and their children by providing legal services, individual and family counseling, emergency financial assistance, and financial literacy education. Those victims who are served by the Metropolitan Family Services Calumet Center will be referred to the Legal Aid Bureau to obtain orders of protection, custody and support orders, safe visitation arrangements, and divorce decrees, as well as to provide education to victims and survivors about the dynamics of domestic violence and their rights and remedies under the Illinois Domestic Violence Act.
Additionally, Metropolitan Family Services plans to provide domestic violence prevention and intervention programming for the community and those at-risk of becoming victims, including teens in local schools at risk for dating violence. The school-based Southside Teens About Respect (STAR) program aims to combat both the problems of children who have witnessed or been victims of domestic violence, and the incidence of modeling of abusive behaviors by providing education about positive communication, values and respect, and non-violent conflict resolution strategies.
The agency will also use funds to provide training and technical assistance in family law matters to social workers, case managers, victim advocates, judges, lawyers, legal services staff, prosecutors, and other professionals serving the needs of sexual assault, stalking, and domestic violence survivors.
NCA/NCF
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