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 Office on Violence Against Women awarded Mariposa Center for Safety $599,774 on October 1, 2025, under the Justice Systems Response to Families Program (CFDA 16.021) to conduct supervised visitation and safe exchange services and provide continuing education to justice system personnel in response to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, stalking, and child sexual abuse.

Mariposa, doing business as the YWCA of Pueblo, will conduct approximately 900 supervised visits and safe exchanges for families experiencing domestic violence in partnership with Colorado Judicial Courts 10 and 16. The organization will also provide continuing education to at least 90 court and legal system personnel to improve their understanding and skills in identifying and appropriately addressing the targeted crimes. Services are delivered in Pueblo, Bent, Crowley, and Otero Counties in southeastern Colorado.

The award runs from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2028. Mariposa is a nonprofit organization that operates as a domestic shelter and victim advocacy service provider across southeastern Colorado, with prior experience delivering Justice for Families grants and related domestic violence services through partnerships with state agencies.

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, mariposa, in partnership with colorado judicial courts 10 and 16, will conductapproximately 900 supervised visits and safe exchanges for families experiencing domestic violence; and provide continuing education for at least 90 court and legal system personnel to improve their understanding and skills in identifying and appropriately addressing domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, stalking, and child sexual abuse in pueblo, bent, crowley, and otero counties in southeastern colorado.