The legal assistance for victims (LAV) grant program, authorized by 34 U.S.C. 20121, is intended to increase the availability of civil and criminal legal assistance needed to effectively aid adult and…

The Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women has awarded a $750,000 Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) Grant Program (CFDA 16.524) to Sanders County Coalition For Families (SCCFF), a non-profit domestic violence shelter in Thompson Falls, MT. This 3-year grant will fund the organization's RAISE project, which provides holistic civil legal services and victim support to low-income, indigenous, immigrant, and LGBTQ survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and sexual assault in rural Sanders and Mineral counties and on the Flathead Reservation.

Under the RAISE project, SCCFF will deliver comprehensive legal assistance in areas such as family law, immigration, housing, employment, and criminal justice proceedings related to the victimization. SCCFF has also partnered with the Ries Law Group P.C. to staff the legal services component. Additionally, SCCFF will develop or amend various program materials including intake forms, safety planning resources, and outreach materials during the grant period.

The legal assistance for victims (LAV) grant program, authorized by 34 U.S.C. 20121, is intended to increase the availability of civil and criminal legal assistance needed to effectively aid adult and youth (ages 11 to 24) victims of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual assault by providing funds for comprehensive direct legal services to victims in legal matters relating to or arising out of that abuse or violence. Legal assistance is assistance in: a) divorce, parental rights, child support, tribal, territorial, immigration, employment, administrative agency, housing, campus, education, healthcare, privacy, contract, consumer, civil rights, protection or other injunctive proceedings, related enforcement proceedings, and other similar matters; b) criminal justice investigations, prosecutions, and post-conviction matters (including sentencing, parole, and probation) that impact the victims safety, privacy, or other interests as a victim; c) alternative dispute resolution, restorative practices, or other processes intended to promote victim safety, privacy, and autonomy, and offender accountability, regardless of court involvement; or d) post-conviction relief proceedings in state, local, tribal, or territorial court with respect to a conviction of a victim relating to or arising from domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or SEX trafficking victimization of the victim. Through this continuation legal assistance for victims project, sanders county coalition for families, in partnership with ries law group P.C., will continue their wraparound raise (representation, accountability, inclusivity, safety, empowerment) project. Raise will provide holistic civil legal and victim services to low income, indigenous, immigrant, and lgbt survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and sexual assault in rural and isolated sanders and mineral counties, and on the lands of the confederated salish & kootenai tribes of the flathead reservation in western montana. The following products and forms will be developed or amended during the project period: intake, safety planning, risk assessment, referral materials, internal training materials, and outreach materials.