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 Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women awarded $600,000 to Child & Family Services of Erie County on October 1, 2025, under the Justice Systems Response to Families Program (CFDA 16.021).

The award funds the hiring of a domestic violence advocate and domestic violence court advocacy coordinator to provide court advocacy, support, and assistance to victims at the Lackawanna and West Seneca Justice Courts in Erie County, New York. The recipient will develop and implement a process for triaging referrals to identify and prioritize high-risk victims in the county. Child & Family Services executes this work in partnership with the New York State Unified Court System 8th Judicial District.

The award period runs through September 30, 2028. Work is performed in Buffalo, New York. The assistance type is a project grant.

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, child and family services of erie county, in partnership with the new york state unified court system 8TH judicial district, will hire a new domestic violence advocate and domestic violence court advocacy coordinator to provide court advocacy, support, and assistance to victims at the lackawanna and west seneca justice courts; and develop and implementa process for triaging referrals to identify and prioritize high-risk victims in erie county, NY.