Contra Costa Family Justice Alliance

THE CONTRA COSTA FAMILY JUSTICE ALLIANCE (CCFJA) WILL LEAD THE CONTRA COSTA FAMILY JUSTICE SKY (SUPPORTING KIDS AND YOUTH) INITIATIVE. THIS PROJECT AIMS TO BUILD COMMUNITY AND ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY AMONG A COLLABORATIVE OF PARTNER AGENCIES TO INCREASE EQUITABLE IMPLEMENTATION OF EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES THAT ADDRESS THE IMPACTS OF ABUSE AND EXPOSURE TO VIOLENCE ON CHILDREN AND YOUTH FROM MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES. THE SKY INITIATIVE WILL SUPPORT CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES FROM HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES IN CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. CCFJA WILL COLLABORATE WITH SUBRECIPIENTS INCLUDING THE CONTRA COSTA CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION COUNCIL, A NONPROFIT FOCUSED ON CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION, AND FIVE POPULATION-SPECIFIC SERVICE AGENCIES, INCLUDING NARIKA, NEPALI COMMUNITY ADVOCATES, THE LATINA CENTER, THE EAST BAY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, AND FIERCE ADVOCATES. EACH OF THESE CULTURALLY-SPECIFIC PARTNERS PROVIDES DIRECT SERVICES TO BLACK, INDIGENOUS, AND OTHER PEOPLE OF COLOR AND IMMIGRANT FAMILIES. THE PROJECT'S PRIMARY ACTIVITIES INCLUDE CONVENING THE COALITION OF SEVEN CORE PARTNER AGENCIES, THE SKY TEAM, TO DISCUSS, LEARN, AND CREATE A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO IMPLEMENT TRAUMA-INFORMED, EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES TO ADDRESS EXPOSURE TO VIOLENCE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN LINGUISTICALLY AND CULTURALLY-APPROPRIATE WAYS FOR MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES. THE SKY TEAM PARTNERS WILL BRING CULTURALLY-SPECIFIC PERSPECTIVES TO THE PROJECT, WITH THE ABILITY TO ADAPT EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES TO THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE AND HIGHLIGHT THE BARRIERS THAT PREVENT FAMILIES FROM ACCESSING SERVICES. THE SKY TEAM WILL IDENTIFY AND ENGAGE SMALLER GRASSROOTS GROUPS TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE IMPACTS OF EXPOSURE VIOLENCE FOR CHILDREN, ORGANIZE AND HOST COMMUNITY LEARNING EVENTS TO INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS ABOUT CHILDREN EXPOSED TO VIOLENCE, AND HELP OTHER GRASSROOTS GROUPS ACCESS EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES. OUTCOMES WILL INCLUDE INCREASED KNOWLEDGE, ADAPTATION, AND ACCESS TO EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES FOR MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES AND AMONG THE COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS SERVING THOSE COMMUNITIES; INCREASED UNDERSTANDING AMONG COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS AND SYSTEMS PARTNERS OF BARRIERS TO SERVICE FAMILIES FACE; AND IMPROVED SAFETY AND WELLNESS FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES EXPOSED TO AND IMPACTED BY VIOLENCE.

CONTRA COSTA FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER SPECIALIZED SERVICES TO ABUSED PARENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN

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, CONTRA COSTA FAMILY JUSTICE ALLIANCE, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH VICTIMS EMPOWERMENT SUPPORT TEAM, THE SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, SOLANO COUNTY, COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES OF SOLANO COUNTY, VICTOR COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES, PARENT BY CHOICE, AND EMPOWERED AGING, WILL IMPLEMENT A STANDARD PROJECT ADDRESSING THE FOLLOWING PURPOSE AREAS: 1) SUPERVISED VISITATION AND SAFE EXCHANGE; AND 3) TRAINING FOR COURT-BASED AND COURT-RELATED PERSONNEL IN SOLANO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. THE PROJECT WILL ADDRESS PRIORITY AREA 1: ADVANCE RACIAL EQUITY AS A CULTURALLY-SPECIFIC ORGANIZATION THAT SPECIALIZES IN SERVING SURVIVORS OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE FROM BIPOC AND MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES. SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE: 1) ESTABLISHING THE SAFE 4 ALL OF US SUPERVISED VISITATION AND EXCHANGE CENTER AT THE SOLANO COUNTY FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER; 2) DEVELOPING NEW TRAINING CURRICULA FOR SOLANO COUNTY COURT-BASED AND COURT-RELATED PERSONNEL ABOUT THE DYNAMICS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE; AND 3) HIRING A 1.0 FTE ADVOCATE TO PROVIDE SAFETY PLANNING FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AT THE SUPERVISED VISITATION CENTER.

THE LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR VICTIMS (LAV) GRANT PROGRAM, AUTHORIZED BY AUTHORIZED BY 34 U.S.C. 20121, IS INTENDED TO INCREASE THE AVAILABILITY OF CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE NEEDED TO EFFECTIVELY AID ADULT AND YOUTH (AGES 11 TO 24) VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, STALKING, OR SEXUAL ASSAULT, BY PROVIDING FUNDS FOR COMPREHENSIVE DIRECT LEGAL SERVICES TO VICTIMS IN LEGAL MATTERS RELATING TO OR ARISING OUT OF THAT ABUSE OR VIOLENCE. LEGAL ASSISTANCE IS ASSISTANCE IN: A) DIVORCE, PARENTAL RIGHTS, CHILD SUPPORT, TRIBAL, TERRITORIAL, IMMIGRATION, EMPLOYMENT, ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY, HOUSING, CAMPUS, EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, PRIVACY, CONTRACT, CONSUMER, CIVIL RIGHTS, PROTECTION OR OTHER INJUNCTIVE PROCEEDINGS, RELATED ENFORCEMENT PROCEEDINGS, AND OTHER SIMILAR MATTERS; B) CRIMINAL JUSTICE INVESTIGATIONS, PROSECUTIONS, AND POST-CONVICTION MATTERS (INCLUDING SENTENCING, PAROLE, AND PROBATION) THAT IMPACT THE VICTIMS SAFETY, PRIVACY, OR OTHER INTERESTS AS A VICTIM; C) ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION, RESTORATIVE PRACTICES, OR OTHER PROCESSES INTENDED TO PROMOTE VICTIM SAFETY, PRIVACY, AND AUTONOMY, AND OFFENDER ACCOUNTABILITY, REGARDLESS OF COURT INVOLVEMENT; OR D) POST-CONVICTION RELIEF PROCEEDINGS IN STATE, LOCAL, TRIBAL, OR TERRITORIAL COURT, WITH RESPECT TO A CONVICTION OF A VICTIM RELATING TO OR ARISING FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, STALKING, OR SEX TRAFFICKING VICTIMIZATION OF THE VICTIM. THE LAV GRANT PROGRAMS EXPANDING LEGAL SERVICES INITIATIVE (ELSI) IS INTENDED TO ENABLE ELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS THAT DO NOT CURRENTLY OFFER LEGAL SERVICES TO ESTABLISH A PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING. THROUGH THIS NEW LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR VICTIMS EXPANDING LEGAL SERVICES INITIATIVE PROJECT, CONTRA COSTA FAMILY JUSTICE ALLIANCE WILL ESTABLISH A PROGRAM TO PROVIDE FAMILY LAW SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND/OR STALKING ACROSS CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. THE PROJECT WILL ADDRESS THE FOLLOWING PRIORITY AREA(S): 1) PRIORITY AREA 1: ADVANCING RACIAL EQUITYAND 2) PRIORITY AREA 3: UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. THE FOLLOWING PRODUCTS WILL BE DEVELOPED DURING THE PROJECT PERIOD: A NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND DESIGN OF THE LEGAL SERVICES PLANAND A LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY/EXPANSION PLAN FOR FAMILY LAW LEGAL SERVICES.