I.
Name
of Grant Program: Civil Legal Assistance to Families Victimized by
Domestic Violence Project (Short name: Civil Legal Assistance
Project).
II.
Legal
Authority: O.C.G.A. §
15-5-24 and Supreme Court of Georgia Order of January 15, 1981 relating to the duties
of the Judicial Council/Administrative Office of the Courts.
III.
Definition:
This is a statewide project designed to provide civil legal services to all
persons, adults and children, victimized by or under the direct threat of
domestic violence.
IV.
Scope: Domestic violence is endemic throughout the
nation and in Georgia. From 2012 to 2021, there were 2,632 family
violence related fatalities in Georgia.1 Domestic violence shelters refer
more than an estimated 10,000 victims of domestic violence to legal service
agencies each year. Other legal resources are inadequate to meet the serious
needs of these families. This project provides a framework under which
Georgia's non-profit legal services programs can serve approximately 6,000
families of domestic violence per year.
V.
Purpose: The
purpose of this program is to provide civil legal assistance to persons
victimized or threatened by domestic violence. Such legal assistance helps with
immediate needs through protective orders or orders for custody and child
support, and also includes legal assistance with such issues as access to
credit and bank accounts, housing, public benefits, employment and other
consumer and financial problems that must be resolved to achieve safety,
stability and economic security.
A. Eligible
Services
This project focuses on providing direct services to victims in
two major areas of need by:
1.
Providing legal services related to domestic violence, child custody, and
family support; and
2. Providing
legal services related to the family's economic security and stability,
including housing issues, employment-related problems, problems with access to
education, and health care.
B. Excluded Services
Certain services are specifically excluded from this program.
Excluded services are:
1. Class action
suits;
2. Criminal defense;
3. Deportation proceedings;
4. Initial Temporary Protective
Orders;
5. Juvenile delinquency;
6. Indirect legal services such as
attorney training;
7. Matters to be
adjudicated in courts outside of Georgia; or
8. Other client-initiated proceedings not
related to the safety, stability, or economic security of the victim or the
victim's family.
C.
Eligible Clients
Victims or persons under the threat of domestic violence who
have no reasonable access to resources that may be used for legal services are
eligible. Evidence of violence or the threat of violence shall be reasonably
demonstrated, but may also be shown by the following:
1. A protective order issued by a court of
competent jurisdiction;
2. A
referral from a domestic violence program or program for children or the
elderly; or
3. A warrant or police
report indicating an incident involving domestic violence.
D. Eligible Grantees
1. Eligible grantees for these funds are
non-profit corporations registered and in good standing with the State of
Georgia with at least two years of experience providing civil legal services in
the State.
2. Recipients must also
demonstrate they have the personnel and expertise necessary to deliver the
services required, that their service delivery structure can adequately provide
coverage throughout the geographical area for which the services are proposed,
and that they have sufficient administrative recordkeeping capabilities to
fulfill reporting requirements necessary for the evaluation of these projects.
3. Community partnerships are
critical to achieving success with this program. The applicants must show broad
community support and the support and cooperation of local domestic violence
programs. Letters of support or other evidence establishing these relationships
should accompany applications.
VI.
General Terms and
Conditions: Grants will be awarded for a one-year term. Each of
Georgia's fifty circuits will be included. The amount of funds available for
distribution to grantees may change each year based on the amount of funds
appropriated to the Judicial Council/Administrative Office of the Courts and
the cost of the administrative oversight of these funds. The grant awards are
generally announced in July.
Grantees will be required to report to the Judicial
Council/Administrative Office of the Courts every six months detailing how the
grant funds were specifically used to assist victims throughout Georgia.
VII.
Criteria for the
Award of Grants: The total population of residents in each county
served by the grant recipient will be considered. This number is based on the
most current estimates from the U. S. Census Bureau.
In no event shall a grantee provide legal services to a client
whose income exceeds 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. Special needs
categories (such as homelessness, rural counties with fewer than ten attorneys,
or regional areas or counties with a disproportionately high rate of death from
domestic violence2) will
also be considered.
Grant funds used for divorces must be directly related to the
protection and safeguarding of domestic violence victims. Grant funds used for
divorces must not exceed more than 10% of the total amount awarded to the
grantee.
VIII.
Directions and Deadlines for Application: Applications
for grant funds
must be submitted via email to the Judicial
Council/Administrative Office of the Courts at grants@georgiacourts.gov.
Comments may be submitted to the Judicial
Council/Administrative Office of the Courts at grants@georgiacourts.gov or
(404) 656-5171.