The grants to support families in the justice system program (referred to as the justice for families program) was authorized in the violence against women reauthorization act of 2013 to improve the…

The grants to support families in the justice system program (referred to as the justice for families program) was authorized in the violence against women reauthorization act of 2013 to improve the response of the civil and criminal justice system to families with a history of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, or in cases involving allegations of child sexual abuse. The program supports the following activities for improving the capacity of courts and communities to respond to families affected by the targeted crimes: court-based and court-related programs; supervised visitation and safe exchange by and between parents; training for people who work with families in the court system; civil legal services; and the provision of resources in juvenile court matters. Projects supported by the justice for families program are those that focus on keeping victims and their children safe from further abuse and holding offenders accountable. Through this new justice for families project, growth works, in partnership with first step and the third judicial circuit court of michigan, will implement a standard project addressing the following purpose areas: 1) supervised visitation and safe exchange; 3) training for court-based and court-related personnel; and 8) training within the civil justice system for wayne county, michigan. Specific activities will include: 1) hiring a 1.0 FTE case manager and two part-time program monitors to provide safe visitation and exchanges to families impacted by domestic violence; and 2) developing domestic violence trainings for judges, court personnel, and other professionals supporting survivors involved with the civil justice system.