Saint Francis Foundation

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, THE SAINT FRANCIS FOUNDATION (FOUNDATION) AND RALLY FAMILY VISITATION SERVICES OF UCSF HEALTH SAINT FRANCIS HOSPITAL (RALLY), IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY OVERCOMING VIOLENCE (CORA) AND THE SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN MATEO (COURT), WILLPROVIDESUPERVISED VISITATION AND SAFE EXCHANGE FOR APPROXIMATELY 90 FAMILIES; CO-LOCATE THE LEGAL ADVOCACY STAFF TO PROVIDE LEGAL ASSISTANCE AND ADVOCACY TO APPROXIMATELY 600 SELF-REPRESENT LITIGANTS AT THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION ACT (DVPA) CALENDARS IN SAN MATEO COURTHOUSE; AND RESPOND TO APPROXIMATELY 600 CALLS TO THE LEGAL LINE TO PROVIDE LEGAL INFORMATION AND REFERRALS ON CRIMINAL AND FAMILY LAW MATTERS FOR FAMILIES WITH A HISTORY OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN SAN MATEO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.