CLEARFIELD – Clearfield County is applying for more than $377,000 in federal Justice for Families grant funding for a Safe Connections Center.
On Tuesday the commissioners approved for Lisa Kovalick, community development specialist, to submit the grant application to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women.
The Justice for Families Program was authorized in the Violence Against Women Reauthorization (VAWA) Act of 2013.
The program’s purpose was to improve the response of all aspects of the civil and criminal justice system to families with a history of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking or in cases involving allegations of child sexual abuse.
If awarded, the grant would be administered by the Clearfield County League on Social Services in partnership with: Judge Paul E. Cherry; Community Action Crossroads Project; PASSAGES; Child Advocacy Center of Clearfield County; Children & Youth Services; Victim/Witness Office; local attorneys; Penn Highlands Clearfield Hospital; and the Clearfield Borough and Lawrence Township police departments.
According to Kovalick, the county is requesting $377,464 to provide a Safe Connections Center for supervised child visits and exchanges for victims and families. She said clients would be served with safe, secured and monitored environments.
There would be multiple safety measures, she said, such as metal detectors, video surveillance, guards, separate parking lots/entrances and staggered arrival and departure times, in addition to “constant supervision.”
Kovalick said the grant funding – if awarded – would also allow for civil legal services for victims of domestic violence and non-offending parents in family matters, including civil protection orders, custody and divorce and others involving another parent represented by counsel.
She said these services would be provided free to all clients. She said the victims would have representation from trained attorneys; the attorneys would be trained and or knowledgeable in the Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) program.
Kovalick said the application for the Safe Connection Center will be submitted to the DOJ by Dec. 20. She said awards will be announced by the DOJ Office of Violence Against Women by Oct. 1, 2018.
Commissioner Mark B. McCracken said the county had previously received the grant, but its funding has since been exhausted. He added the county’s last application was turned down, and the commissioners are hoping for a grant award this time around.
