LAF November eNewsletter
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A special message from
LAF Executive Director
Diana C. White
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As the year begins to wind down, and the holiday season begins to kick in, we are grateful for many things here at LAF, including the support you have generously shown to LAF over the years. We had a great response to the first eNewsletter we sent out last month, and I would like to thank everyone who wrote in with comments, suggestions and praise. Keep them coming!
Each month, I intend to use this eNewsletter to highlight some of the terrific things our volunteers and supporters are doing on our behalf and, as always, continue to share the victories our staff achieve for our clients.
I would also like to continue to introduce you to members of our team at LAF, starting with those who have taken on new roles and responsibilities in our centralization process. Last month, we highlighted Mara Block, our new Pro Bono Staff Attorney, and below you can read more about Salvador Lopez, who is heading up our new Veterans Rights Task Force.
As always, thank you for your continued support of LAF!
Best,
Diana C. White
LAF Executive Director
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Protecting A Family from Violence:
Working Collaboratively to Achieve Safety and Security for Victims of Domestic Violence
It took collaboration, careful planning and determination to give Trista and her five children a life free from violence. Trista was only a teen when she married her abuser. When she first came to meet with us, she told her story in a matter of fact tone of voice, but with tears rolling down her face. She described how her husband beat her almost every week, but the incident that most frightened her took place when she was pregnant and her husband hit her so many times her face was covered in blood and her eyes were black and blue. Then, described Trista, “he punched my stomach”. Fortunately, her unborn child was not harmed. Her abusive husband’s jealousy was so out of control, she explained, that he even abused her while she slept. She had recently woken up gasping for air, because her husband was choking her.
Trista first came to see us to learn about her legal options. She wasn’t sure she was ready to proceed with any legal remedy largely because she was unsure how to financially support their five children, one of whom suffered from a severe disability and needed constant care. Hilda Bahena, the LAF attorney, explained to her how a judge could grant child support, maintenance and safety via an order of protection. Just as we were explaining all of her legal options, her cell phone started to ring: It’s him,” she said, “I have to go.”
Trista decided to file for divorce, but believed that seeking an order of protection would heighten the risk of an abusive incident. Hilda and her counselor at our partner social service agency worked as a team to provide support and a safe way of ending the abusive relationship. Each stage in her divorce was strategically planned between Hilda and Trista - code words to alert her team that she was in trouble, an emergency escape plan, clothes and important documents stashed away, etc.
Finally, this fall Trista obtained her divorce. The court awarded Trista sole custody of their five children, 55% of her abuser’s income for child support and maintenance, over 60% of the parties’ assets and none of the debts. Most importantly, the hours spent carefully planning each legal hearing helped prevent any further violence.
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Jared Heck - LAF Young Professionals Board
Jared is one of the most active members of LAF's Young Professionals Board (YPB). An Associate at Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, Jared currently serves on the Executive Committee of the YPB, and is working closely with LAF staff in the Special Education Project to develop a special pro bono initiative that links members of the YPB with cases representing special needs students. Jared was also a PILI Fellow at LAF in 2006, where he worked closely with LAF attorneys Kate Shank, Larry Wood, and Alicia Aiken on housing and family law matters.
“From the moment I started working at LAF, I knew it was a special place. I had never encountered so many dedicated and hard-working professionals under one roof. LAF is a truly remarkable organization that has made a positive imprint on countless lives while operating with limited resources. I have remained actively engaged with LAF to ensure that its staff can continue helping the people who rely on them to be their voice. I strongly encourage others to lend their support as well.”
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LAF Hosts Panel for Domestic Violence Awareness Month
To commemorate Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October, the Community Engagement Unit at LAF hosted a panel discussion concerning resources available for survivors of Domestic Violence. The theme was “Empowering Families Impacted by Domestic Violence: A Survey of Diverse Services”.
The panelists included Michael Feinerman, the Co-Executive Director for Center For Advancing Domestic Peace; Meghan Llanes, a child therapist and clinical supervisor from Rainbow House; Colleen Norton, the Prevention and Education Manager at Between Friends; and Brenda Tori, the Family Visitation Supervisor at Mujeres Latinas en Acción. They discussed the resources available to Domestic Violence survivors, their children and the abusive partners; and the event was well attended by staff from various social service agencies in Cook County as well as by LAF staff.
Many thanks again to everyone last month who participated in the Awareness Campaign and this event; and helped to bring attention to the issue of domestic violence and the resources available to those affected by it.
Click here to see photos from the event!
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On October 2, 2011, 82 LAF staff members, students, Board members, Young Professionals Board members, family and friends raised over $12,000 at the 2011 AIDS Run/Walk. All proceeds from the event come back to LAF's HIV/AIDS Project, which assists clients living with HIV/AIDS.
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Click here to view previous.
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llinois Legal Aid Online
has launched its
Spanish language website!
Check it out at AyudaLegalIL.org
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