Womens Rights Information Center

WOMEN’S RIGHTS INFORMATION CENTER’S (WRIC) PROPOSES TO INCREASE THE SAFETY, SELF-SUFFICIENCY, AND WELL-BEING OF VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY THROUGH THE FOLLOWING MEASURES: 1) TARGET OUTREACH TO MARGINALIZED POPULATIONS AND ENHANCE SCREENING AND ASSESSMENT TO IDENTIFY TRAFFICKED INDIVIDUALS EARLIER; 2) REDUCE TRAUMA WITH SHORT-TERM CLINICAL INTERVENTIONS; AND 3) INCREASE EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS AND ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE THROUGH JOB-READINESS PROGRAMS. WRIC’S PRIMARY GOAL UNDER THIS GRANT IS TO DEVELOP SERVICE PROGRAMS FOR VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AND TO EXPAND ITS CURRENT EVIDENCED-BASED, TRAUMA INFORMED, THERAPEUTIC SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING. ADDITIONALLY, WRIC WILL WORK TO EXPAND THE KNOWLEDGE BASE AND CAPACITY OF STAFF TO WORK WITH AND RECOGNIZE TRAFFICKING AND TO HIRE STAFF WITH TRAFFICKING EXPERTISE. WRIC WILL WORK WITH ITS NORTHERN NEW JERSEY COMMUNITY WITH THE INTENDED OUTCOME TO INCREASE TRAFFICKING VICTIMS’ SAFETY, INDEPENDENCE, SELF-SUFFICIENCY, AND WELL-BEING. OVER THE COURSE OF THE PROJECT PERIOD, WRIC INTENDS TO PROVIDE WRAPAROUND SUPPORT AND THERAPEUTIC SERVICES FOR AT LEAST 30 VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING. AS WRIC INCREASES CAPABILITIES TO BETTER IDENTIFY VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING, IT WILL ALSO EXPAND OUTREACH TO VULNERABLE AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES WHICH INCLUDE LATINO(A), AFRICAN AMERICAN, ASIAN, THE UNEMPLOYED/UNDEREMPLOYED, IMMIGRANT, AND LGBTQ+ POPULATIONS. WRIC SEEKS TO IDENTIFY AND SUPPORT THOSE EXPLOITED AND RESPOND EFFECTIVELY. WRIC’S PARTNERSHIP WITH INVESTIGATORS, PROSECUTORS, AND NJ BASED PROGRAMS WILL FACILITATE THE SUPPORT AND RECOVERY OF TRAFFICKED VICTIMS.

THE WOMENS RIGHTS INFORMATION CENTER (WRIC) PROPOSES TO CONTINUE ITS PROGRAM, LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR LOW-INCOME VICTIMS OF CRIME, TO PROVIDE ESSENTIAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO LOW-INCOME VICTIMS OF CRIME IN BERGEN COUNTY, WITH A FOCUS ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS. THIS PROJECT ADDRESSES THE CRITICAL NEED FOR EXPANDED LEGAL SUPPORT, OFFERING LIFESAVING ASSISTANCE SUCH AS PROTECTIVE ORDERS, CHILD CUSTODY ARRANGEMENTS, AND DIVORCE PROCEEDINGS. PRIMARY ACTIVITIES INCLUDE PROVIDING LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND ADVICE, FACILITATING TEMPORARY AND FINAL RESTRAINING ORDERS (TROS AND FROS), ASSISTING WITH VICTIMS OF CRIME COMPENSATION (VCCO) APPLICATIONS, AND OFFERING COURT ACCOMPANIMENT FOR EMOTIONAL SUPPORT. THE PROJECT ALSO FOCUSES ON OUTREACH TO UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS, PARTICULARLY NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING IMMIGRANTS, AND INCREASING PUBLIC AWARENESS ABOUT WRICS LEGAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THROUGH ORIENTATIONS, NETWORKING WITH LOCAL PROSECUTORS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND DISTRIBUTING INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS. IN 2023, WRIC SUPPORTED MANY SURVIVORS WHO REQUIRED UNAFFORDABLE LEGAL SERVICES. WRIC AIMS TO SERVE AT LEAST 540 VICTIMS, ENSURING THEY RECEIVE TIMELY AND EFFECTIVE LEGAL SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY. SPECIALIZED SERVICES FOR IMMIGRANT SURVIVORS, WHO FACE UNIQUE CHALLENGES SUCH AS EXPLOITATION BY ABUSERS MANIPULATING THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS, ARE ALSO INCLUDED. BY PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE LEGAL ASSISTANCE, THE PROJECT SEEKS TO EMPOWER CLIENTS TO NAVIGATE THE LEGAL SYSTEM, PROTECT THEIR RIGHTS, AND ENHANCE THEIR SAFETY AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY. EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF VICTIMS OBTAINING PROTECTIVE ORDERS AND OTHER LEGAL REMEDIES AS WELL AS IMPROVED OVERALL VICTIM WELL-BEING THROUGH LEGAL SUPPORT. CLIENT SATISFACTION SURVEYS AND FOLLOW-UP EVALUATIONS WILL MEASURE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THESE SERVICES, ENSURING CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT AND RESPONSIVENESS TO SURVIVORS' NEEDS. WRICS HOLISTIC APPROACH ADDRESSES THE LEGAL, EMOTIONAL, FINANCIAL, AND EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF VICTIMS. THIS PROJECT SPECIFICALLY AIMS TO DEMOCRATIZE ACCESS TO LEGAL SERVICES, PROMOTE SOCIAL JUSTICE AND ENABLING VICTIMS TO REBUILD THEIR LIVES FREE FROM VIOLENCE. THROUGH INDIVIDUALIZED CASE MANAGEMENT AND A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT, WRIC STRIVES TO TRANSFORM VICTIMS LIVES, FOSTERING HOPE, SECURITY, AND DIGNITY.

WOMENS RIGHTS INFORMATION CENTER (WRIC) PROPOSES TO IMPLEMENT A LEGAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM TO PROVIDE FREE LEGAL ADVICE, COUNSEL, AND REPRESENTATION TO LOW-INCOME VICTIMS OF CRIME IN BERGEN COUNTY. VERY FEW SURVIVORS RECEIVE HELP IN THE AFTERMATH OF CRIME. ACCORDING TO THE ALLIANCE FOR SAFETY AND JUSTICE, THE SECOND MOST NEEDED, BUT UNMET, SERVICE IS HELP IN UNDERSTANDING THE COURTS AND LEGAL SYSTEM. THE MOST DIRECT WAY TO HELP MORE SURVIVORS IS BY BRINGING IN MORE ATTORNEYS AND LEGAL ADVOCATES. WRICS GOAL IS TO ENSURE FULL ACCESS TO EQUAL JUSTICE FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT PAY LEGAL FEES BECAUSE OF POVERTY OR BECAUSE THEIR ACCESS TO FINANCIAL RESOURCES IS OFTEN CONTROLLED BY THEIR ABUSERS/PERPETRATORS. WITHOUT LEGAL ADVOCACY AND REPRESENTATION, MANY VICTIMS WILL GO TO COURT UNREPRESENTED, WITH POTENTIALLY DISASTROUS RESULTS. WRIC WILL HIRE LEGAL STAFF WHO WILL INFORM VICTIMS OF THEIR RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS, AND PROVIDE LEGAL REPRESENTATION FOR RESTRAINING ORDERS, HEARINGS FOR RELIEF RELATED TO VICTIMIZATION, AND FOR ISSUES RELATED TO SEPARATION, DIVORCE, CHILD AND SPOUSAL SUPPORT, PARENTING TIME, HOUSING, AND EMPLOYMENT. WRIC WILL EXPAND OUTREACH TO THE COMMUNITY, PARTNERING AGENCIES, AND UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS, INCLUDING IMMIGRANTS AND THOSE WHOSE FIRST LANGUAGE IS NOT ENGLISH, IN ORDER TO INCREASE VISIBILITY AND PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE ABOUT ITS ENHANCED LEGAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.