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 U.S. Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women awarded a $599,877 Project Grant under the Justice Systems Response to Families Program (CFDA 16.021) to the Ohio CASA/GAL Association. The grant supports a continuation project spanning October 2024 to September 2027 that aims to improve the civil and criminal justice system's response to families affected by domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in Ohio.

Specifically, the grant funds will support: 1) a 0.73 FTE project coordinator to oversee implementation; 2) training for guardians ad litem (GALs); and 3) contracts for advanced GALs to assist and inform judicial decision-making in child custody and domestic violence cases. These activities are intended to enhance court-based services, training for court-related personnel, and civil legal assistance for victims and their families within the Ohio justice system.

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 continuation justice for families project, ohio casa/ GAL association, in partnership with the ohio domestic violence network, the supreme court of ohio, the ohio poverty law center, allen county court of common pleas, athens county court of common pleas, gallia county court of common pleas, gallia county juvenile court, hocking county court of common pleas, hocking county juvenile court, harrison county juvenile court, marion county family court, meigs county common pleas court, meigs county juvenile court, and tuscarawas county court of common pleas will implement a standard project addressing the following purpose areas: 3) training for court-based and court-related personnel; and 5) court and court-based programs and services for the state of ohio. Specific activities will include: 1) supporting a 0.73 FTE project coordinator to oversee implementation; 2) providing training to guardians ad litem; and 3) supporting contract advanced gals to assist and inform judicial decision-making in cases involving child custody and domestic violence. This is a continuation of 2020-FJ-AX-0008.