WOMEN AGAINST ABUSE LEGAL CENTER
100 SOUTH BROAD STREET NO 1341, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19110 www.womenagainstabuse.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: THE WOMEN AGAINST ABUSE LEGAL CENTER PROVIDES FREE ATTORNEY REPRESENTATION, ADVOCACY AND TELEPHONE COUNSELING TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SEEKING LEGAL PROTECTIONS IN PHILADELPHIA.

THE WOMEN AGAINST ABUSE LEGAL CENTER IS THE ONLY COMPREHENSIVE LEGAL SERVICE PROVIDER IN PHILADELPHIA SPECIFICALLY DEDICATED TO ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND ONE OF THE FIRST IN THE NATION. THE WOMEN AGAINST ABUSE LEGAL CENTER EMPOWERS WOMEN AND MEN WHO HAVE BEEN ABUSED TO NAVIGATE THE JUSTICE SYSTEM BY PROVIDING ATTORNEY REPRESENTATION, COURT ADVOCACY AND TELEPHONE COUNSELING. EXPERIENCED STAFF MEMBERS WORK WITH VICTIMS TO SECURE LEGAL PROTECTIONS RELATING TO BOTH CRIMINAL AND CIVIL MATTERS, INCLUDING PROTECTION FROM ABUSE, SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND INTIMIDATION ORDERS, CHILD CUSTODY AND CHILD SUPPORT. WOMEN AGAINST ABUSE ATTORNEYS HAVE EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN NAVIGATING LEGAL SYSTEMS AND ADDRESSING THE ISSUE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN A SENSITIVE MANNER THAT EMPOWERS CLIENTS. SEVERAL ATTORNEYS ALSO BRING SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE IN THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF DISTINCT SUBPOPULATIONS, SUCH AS VICTIMS OF STALKING AND VICTIMS WHO ARE IMMIGRANTS.IN FISCAL YEAR 2020, THE WOMEN AGAINST ABUSE LEGAL CENTER SERVED 2,962 VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, INCLUDING 425 VICTIMS AT HIGHEST RISK OF LETHALITY THROUGH AN INNOVATIVE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PHILADELPHIA POLICE DEPT. OVER THE PAST YEAR, ATTORNEYS PROVIDED FREE REPRESENTATION OR ASSISTANCE TO 1,101 INDIVIDUALS; COURT ADVOCATES SERVED 927 CLIENTS; AND PARALEGALS AND SUPPORT STAFF MEMBERS PROVIDED LEGAL ADVOCACY, INFORMATION AND RESOURCES TO 410 VICTIMS AT CRUCIAL POINTS OF NEED IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM, INCLUDING IN THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT, THE GENERAL FILING UNIT OF PHILADELPHIA FAMILY COURT, AND FOR FAMILIES INVOLVED IN THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM. THE WOMEN AGAINST ABUSE LEGAL CENTER ALSO PROVIDED TELEPHONE COUNSELING TO 660 CLIENTS IN FISCAL YEAR 2020.DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, THE LEGAL CENTER HAD A DECREASE IN NUMBERS SERVED IN LIGHT OF COURT CLOSURES AND LACK OF IMMEDIATE ACCESS BETWEEN CLIENTS AND STAFF. WOMEN AGAINST ABUSE IS THE ONLY AGENCY WITH ON-SITE OFFICES IN PHILADELPHIA FAMILY COURT AN AMENITY WHICH NORMALLY ALLOWS ATTORNEYS TO MORE EFFECTIVELY OUTREACH TO AND SERVE CLIENTS. WITH THE COURT BUILDINGS CLOSED DURING COVID-19, WE HAVE HAD TO PIVOT TO ENSURE SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CONTINUED TO RECEIVE THE LEGAL PROTECTIONS THEY NEED. CLIENTS CONTINUED TO RECEIVE SUPPORT FROM PARALEGALS, TELEPHONE COUNSELORS AND SUPPORT STAFF, WHO ARE WORKING REMOTELY IN REAL TIME DURING BUSINESS HOURS. AND ATTORNEYS MAINTAINED THEIR CURRENT CASELOADS VIA VIRTUAL COURTROOM APPEARANCES, WHILE CONTINUING TO PROVIDE TELEPHONE SUPPORT AND LEGAL ADVICE. IN ADDITION TO ITS DIRECT SERVICES, THE LEGAL CENTER IS ALSO HIGHLY ENGAGED IN SYSTEMS CHANGE WORK THAT WILL IMPROVE PHILADELPHIA'S RESPONSE TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BY ENSURING EFFECTIVE SCREENING AND INTERVENTION FOR VICTIMS, WHILE HOLDING PERPETRATORS ACCOUNTABLE AND OFFERING THEM ALTERNATIVES TO VIOLENCE. LEGAL CENTER LEADERSHIP WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE COURTS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT SECTOR TO ENSURE THAT ACCESS POINTS REMAINED AVAILABLE FOR THE PUBLIC TO BE ABLE TO FILE FOR CRUCIAL PROTECTIONS FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN A TIMELY WAY DURING COVID-19. WE WERE EVEN ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATE WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO HAVE THEM DELIVER PETITIONS TO DEFENDANTS, SO THAT OUR CLIENTS WERE NOT FORCED TO TRAVEL AND BE EXPOSED TO POSSIBLE DANGER DURING THE PANDEMIC.

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