Domestic violence victims to get help

Monday, August 29, 2005

Domestic violence victims to get help
Central Mass. agency gets $450,000

By Mallary Jean Tenore SPECIAL TO THE TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

WORCESTER— Victims of domestic violence and their families will now have more resources to turn to, thanks to a $450,000 grant awarded to the Legal Assistance Corporation of Central Massachusetts.

The federal grant, awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice, will help provide services to domestic violence victims seeking legal assistance.

“The grant will allow us to help hundreds of battered women,” said Robert A. Nasdor, executive director of Legal Assistance Corporation. “It’s certainly more funding than we’ve ever received.”

The agency, which helps advise domestic violence victims who seek legal assistance in handling abuse issues, will share its grant money in partnership with the Worcester Daybreak Resources for Women and Children and Battered Women’s Resources Inc. in Fitchburg. The collaboration, known as the Legal Advocacy for Women Partnership, will help victims of sexual assault, domestic violence and stalking, obtain abuse prevention orders and better understand their legal rights. The partnership will also help provide support networks for victims and their families by teaching them coping mechanisms to help deal with the physical and emotional pain they have experienced. The need for such a partnership has become increasingly critical considering the prevalence of domestic abuse cases, Mr. Nasdor said.

In the past, the corporation has worked primarily with other groups in Worcester, but will now be able to work with victims and resource centers from other towns, such as Battered Women’s Resources in Fitchburg. “We’re very excited that we’re going to be able to expand what we offer,” said Mr. Nasdor.

Daybreak Resources plans to use the money to enlarge its efforts as court advocates and to hire additional staff, according to Virginia L. Navickas, director of Daybreak Resources. Daybreak Resources provides shelter for domestic abuse victims and offers community services as part of its nonresidential program.

Daybreak Resources’ Safeplan program provides support to victims who have sought court assistance by teaching them how to better navigate the court system. Victims who bring their cases to court are often unsure of how the legal process works and consequently become even more distressed by their situation, Ms. Navickas said.

“Our advocates are able to provide information, support and appropriate referrals to our families,” said Ms. Navickas, adding that the grant money will enable the Daybreak Resources to hire more staff to help in these efforts. Within the past year, Safeplan has served 1,480 victims in Central Massachusetts, she said.