Provides help to individuals in crisis, providing community education and working to change public perception and response to domestic violence Advocates provide: - Assistance with Orders for Protection (Temporary Restraining Orders- TRO) - Emergency housing, if safety is an issue - Emergency transportation (only in cases where law enforcement is involved) - Individual advocacy - Information and referral to needed services - Internship and volunteer opportunities - Legal system assistance - Public education - Support at court proceedings - Support Groups - Support in working with law enforcement - Youth advocates

Provides legal representation on issues related to: - Benefits - Custody - Family law matters - Housing - Immigration - Orders for protection May help with the following for victims of human trafficking: - Expungements - Housing - HROs ?- OFPs - Other civil legal problems - Public benefit issues

Responsibilities of the County Attorney's Office include: - Adult prosecution - Child custody decrees - Child protection cases - Child support and paternity matters - Civil advice - Family services - Juvenile prosecution - Pursuing Improvement and prevention: Prevents or reduces crime in the local communities and statewide - Victim/Witness assistance ?

Provide support to those who have been affected by domestic violence or sexual assault. Services may include: - 24-Hour Crisis Hotline: Provides a hotline for advocacy, resources, and shelter for all victims of violence. The hotline provides information and safety planning to support victims. - Advocacy: Legal advocates can help victims navigate and explain the legal system in criminal and civil protective order cases. Helps victims work with local police, city, and county attorneys to advocate on the victim's behalf. Assist in filing Orders for Protection and Harassment Restraining Orders. Attend court hearings with victims to provide information and support and more. - Emergency Shelter: A 24-hour domestic violence and sexual violence emergency shelter within Carlton, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, and Pine counties. The Black Dog Hill Shelter provides secure emergency shelter and access to basic needs to survivors and children. Basic needs include meals, toiletries, clothing, linens, diapers, laundry facilities, and access to a food shelf. - Intervention: Offers a Batterers Intervention Program to those interested and/or court-ordered to participate in a psycho-educational group led by trained professional facilitators. Participants learn to identify abusive behaviors and are taught to react to situations non-abusively and communicate with their partner. - Support Groups: Provides support groups to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault through empowerment, conversations, and activities. Meetings are held in-person and virtual and times will vary by county office.

Provides legal advice and representation to parents who are involved with Child Protection, both before and during court proceedings with the understanding that working with Child Protection can be an overwhelming and stressful process. The program's goal is to help clients and their families prevent court involvement and achieve positive outcomes if clients do have to go to court. Services include: - Provide legal advice before and during court involvement - Represent clients in child protection court to help clients reach their goals - Connect clients with services and supports to help their families achieve stability - Advocate for clients with Child Protection and the courts to ensure clients rights are protected ARS is not affiliated with the Hennepin County Attorney's Office or the Hennepin County Child Protection. Consultations are confidential.

Provides free, confidential domestic violence and sexual abuse victim advocacy services, including: - Crime victim support and accompaniment services - Domestic violence and sexual abuse counseling and therapy - Domestic violence and sexual abuse support groups - Emotional support - Individual advocacy - Legal assistance regarding Orders for Protection, Stalking/Harassment Orders, domestic/family violence, divorce, and custody. Provides lawyer referrals.

Services provided on Wellness Day are free and confidential; lunch/snacks and childcare are provided to help participants enjoy the day. Services offered on Wellness Day may include: - Individual therapy - Spiritual direction - Adult Rehabilitative Mental Health Services (ARMHS) - Massage therapy - Salon stylist - Brow waxing - Manicures - Medical exams for women's health - Art therapy - Legal aid

Represents people who meet the financial and case priority guidelines when the case has legal merit and fits within the program. Family law cases handled include: - Cases for victims of abuse where the courts or law enforcement are not following rules or laws - Cases for victims of abuse or primary caretakers that challenge racial or other illegal discrimination - Indian Child Welfare Act cases (Ramsey County only) Legal assistance to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, or stalking: - Custody - Divorce - Harassment Restraining Orders (HRO's) - Orders for Protections (OFP's) - Paternity (if can't obtain court-appointed counsel) Primary Caretakers: - Child-snatching - Custody modifications and restricted parenting time when the child is in danger - Responding to divorce or custody petitions where the other parent is seeking custody May accept a custody case on behalf of a friend or family member if: The child will otherwise be placed in fostercare; The child is in danger in the parents' care; The friend or relative has been the child's primary caretaker for at least 6 months (if the child is under 3 years old) or one year (if over 3 years old)

Provides the following services to individuals of all ages and genders who are currently experiencing or have experienced domestic violence (including physical, emotional, mental, or financial abuse from an intimate partner or household member), stalking, or harassment in northwest and western Hennepin County: - Community advocacy and referrals; including immigrant and refugee victims of domestic violence - Coordination and support through the criminal, civil & family legal systems - Immediate and long-term safety planning; assist with Safe at Home application - Legal advocacy including information on the Hennepin County court system and assistance obtaining Orders for Protection or Harassment Restraining Orders in Hennepin County

Legal services and representation provided to victims as they interact with the various systems that may be related to sexual assault. These include the criminal justice system, law enforcement, governmental entities, social services, civil attorneys and others. An attorney and legal advocate work specifically with victim/survivors on the sometimes complicated issues that can arise as a result of sexual violence. Legal services for victims of sexual assault including: - Applying for a protection order, known as an Order for Protection (OFP) or Harassment Restraining Orders (HRO) - Applying for Crime Victim Reparations (reimbursement for expenses due to the violence) - Applying for the Safe at Home Address Confidentiality Program - Assistance Writing Victim Impact Statements - Attending court and campus hearings - Ending a lease due to sexual violence - Follow up interviews with law enforcement or educational institutions - Legal advice and representation in civil legal matters including: - Divorce, child custody, and paternity - Employment - Housing (landlord/tenant disputes) - Immigration - Orders for Protection/Harassment Restraining Orders - Title IX (prohibits sex-based discrimination in any school or any other education program) - Provide information about the criminal justice process - Reporting sexual violence, including trafficking and exploitation - Safety planning

Represents people who meet the financial and case priority guidelines when the case has legal merit and fits within the program. Family law cases handled include: - Cases for victims of abuse where the courts or law enforcement are not following rules or laws - Cases for victims of abuse or primary caretakers that challenge racial or other illegal discrimination - Indian Child Welfare Act cases (Ramsey County only) Legal assistance to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, or stalking: - Custody - Divorce - Harassment Restraining Orders (HRO's) - Orders for Protections (OFP's) - Paternity (if can't obtain court-appointed counsel) Primary Caretakers: - Child-snatching - Custody modifications and restricted parenting time when the child is in danger - Responding to divorce or custody petitions where the other parent is seeking custody May accept a custody case on behalf of a friend or family member if: The child will otherwise be placed in fostercare; The child is in danger in the parents' care; The friend or relative has been the child's primary caretaker for at least 6 months (if the child is under 3 years old) or one year (if over 3 years old)

Advocates dedicated to ending domestic violence by helping individuals in crisis, providing community education and working for changes in how society views and handles violence. Advocates provide: - Assistance with the legal system - Assistance with Orders For Protection (Temporary Restraining Orders - TRO) - Assistance with law enforcement - Emergency and transitional housing - Support groups - Emergency transportation (With police involved only) - Individual advocacy - Accompaniment to court proceedings - Information and referral - Public education - Internships and volunteer opportunities - Men's information and education - Men's domestic violence groups - Women's information and educations - Women's domestic violence groups - Behavior education - Elder abuse advocacy - Youth advocates - Advocates provided for parents or significant others affected by the abuse on request - Safe housing is available IF there is a domestic situation and safety is an issue

Responsibilities of the County Attorney's Office include: - Child custody decrees - Child protection cases - Child support and paternity matters - County civil matters - Delinquency cases; juvenile court - Guardianships - Juvenile diversion - Legal representation of county boards and county agencies - Prosecutes criminal cases and traffic violations - Restraining and harassment orders; orders for protection

Volunteer attorneys spend about 15-20 minutes per client providing legal advice and/or brief services on most legal issues in combination with services provided by court Self-Help Center staff. Services include: - Brief legal services from volunteer attorneys - Please note that persons receive free legal advice, not representation, from an attorney. The attorneys are volunteers and may have emergencies that may require them to cancel at the last minute. - Forms and written instructions (some fees may apply) - Guardianship assistance is targeted to adults who are disabled or elderly and who lack capacity to make decisions for themselves. - Videos on how to represent yourself in court - Online tools for filling out forms - One-on-one help to learn court procedures - One-on-one review of court forms - Referrals to community resources and legal services

- Child and adult protection representation - Child support and paternity cases - Commitments for mental illness, chemical dependency or mental retardation - Conservatorships - Crime witness support - Criminal and delinquency prosecution; district attorney - Criminal protective orders - District Attorney - Domestic/family violence legal services - Guardianships - Initiates CHIPS (Child in need of protection or services) - Juvenile diversion - Legal representation of county boards and agencies - Prosecutes misdemeanors, gross misdemeanors and felonies - Requests restitution; crime victim compensation - Restraining orders - Stalking/Harassment orders - Temporary and permanent restraining orders - Victim notification

Responsibilities of the County Attorney's Office include: - Child custody decrees - Child protection cases - Child support and paternity matters - CHIPS cases - Commitments - Conservatorships - County civil matters - Crime victim assistance and compensation - Crime victim notification service - Crime witness support - Delinquency cases; juvenile court - Domestic violence legal services - Guardianships - Juvenile diversion - Legal representation of county boards and county agencies - Prosecutes criminal cases - Restraining and harassment orders; orders for protection

Services are victim-centered, which means individuals will guide their own process, make their own decisions, and have staff provide information, support, and referrals. Services include: - Advocacy: Assistance in obtaining Emergency Protective Orders, Permanent Restraining Orders, Stalking/Harassment Orders, Temporary Restraining Orders, housing, community services, and medical appointments - Confidentiality - Community education and professional training - Crisis line - Emergency Services: Transportation to medical facilities, law enforcement, safe housing, etc. - Individual and group support - Prevention and/or Rapid Rehousing: Services provided by the Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program - FHPAP - Safety planning

- Child and adult protection representation - Child support and paternity cases - Commitments - Conservatorships - Criminal and delinquency prosecution - Guardianships - Legal representation of boards and agencies - Provides support and assistance for victims and witnesses in criminal and juvenile matters handled by the County Attorney's office

Provides free and confidential services to those affected by domestic violence, sexual violence, human trafficking/exploitation, and high-risk youth in Lincoln, Lyon, Redwood, and Yellow Medicine counties. Confidential services: - Accompaniment to court - Assistance with petitioning for an Order for Protection or Harassment Restraining Order - Community education - Crisis line - Emergency transportation, and/or assistance - Information, referrals, and resources - Temporary emergency safe housing - Systems coordination - Support group - Youth Programs: Provides youth the ability to teach and learn from their peers about confidence, communication, safety, and life skills. Emergency assistance includes, but is not limited to, the following expenses: - Crime Scene cleanup - Grant funds are used to meet crime victims' emergency needs when available - Purchase and installation of necessary home security devices - Reimbursement of towing and storage fees incurred due to impoundment of a recovered stolen vehicle - Replacement of necessary property that was lost, damaged or stolen as a result of a crime - Transportation to locations related to the victim's needs as a victim, such as medical and criminal justice facilities - Victim reimbursement for reasonable travel and living expenses incurred due to a change in venue Victims of crime have also received funding through the program for items such as repairing a broken door, installing new locks, and replacing clothing or bedding taken as evidence. Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program - FHPAP may be available through pre-screening.

The New Beginnings Project assists immigrant survivors of domestic violence or other serious crimes and their qualified family members in obtaining legal status and gaining self-sufficiency needed to escape a cycle of violence. Survivors receive priority intake at ILCM and are immediately provided with safety planning services and referrals. ILCM then assists many of these vulnerable immigrants and their families in applying for legal status.

Services are victim-centered, which means individuals will guide their own process, make their own decisions, and have staff provide information, support, and referrals. Services include: - Advocacy: Assistance in obtaining Emergency Protective Orders, Permanent Restraining Orders, Stalking/Harassment Orders, Temporary Restraining Orders, housing, community services, and medical appointments - Confidentiality - Community education and professional training - Crisis line - Emergency Services: Transportation to medical facilities, law enforcement, safe housing, etc. - Individual and group support - Prevention and/or Rapid Rehousing: Services provided by the Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program - FHPAP - Safety planning

Provide support to those who have been affected by domestic violence or sexual assault. Services may include: - 24-Hour Crisis Hotline: Provides a hotline for advocacy, resources, and shelter for all victims of violence. The hotline provides information and safety planning to support victims. - Advocacy: Legal advocates can help victims navigate and explain the legal system in criminal and civil protective order cases. Helps victims work with local police, city, and county attorneys to advocate on the victim's behalf. Assist in filing Orders for Protection and Harassment Restraining Orders. Attend court hearings with victims to provide information and support and more. - Emergency Shelter: A 24-hour domestic violence and sexual violence emergency shelter within Carlton, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, and Pine counties. The Black Dog Hill Shelter provides secure emergency shelter and access to basic needs to survivors and children. Basic needs include meals, toiletries, clothing, linens, diapers, laundry facilities, and access to a food shelf. - Intervention: Offers a Batterers Intervention Program to those interested and/or court-ordered to participate in a psycho-educational group led by trained professional facilitators. Participants learn to identify abusive behaviors and are taught to react to situations non-abusively and communicate with their partner. - Support Groups: Provides support groups to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault through empowerment, conversations, and activities. Meetings are held in-person and virtual and times will vary by county office.

Responsibilities of the County Attorney's Office include: - Child custody decrees - Child protection cases - Child support and paternity matters - Conservatorships - County civil matters - Crime victim assistance and compensation - Crime victim notification service - Crime witness support - Delinquency cases; juvenile court - Family court - Guardianships - Juvenile diversion - Law library - Prosecutes criminal cases - Restraining and harassment orders; orders for protection

Represents people who meet the financial and case priority guidelines when the case has legal merit and fits within the program. Family law cases handled include: - Cases for victims of abuse where the courts or law enforcement are not following rules or laws - Cases for victims of abuse or primary caretakers that challenge racial or other illegal discrimination - Indian Child Welfare Act cases (Ramsey County only) Legal assistance to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, or stalking: - Custody - Divorce - Harassment Restraining Orders (HRO's) - Orders for Protections (OFP's) - Paternity (if can't obtain court-appointed counsel) Primary Caretakers: - Child-snatching - Custody modifications and restricted parenting time when the child is in danger - Responding to divorce or custody petitions where the other parent is seeking custody May accept a custody case on behalf of a friend or family member if: The child will otherwise be placed in fostercare; The child is in danger in the parents' care; The friend or relative has been the child's primary caretaker for at least 6 months (if the child is under 3 years old) or one year (if over 3 years old)

- Child protection/CHIPS cases - Child support and paternity - Commitments - Conservatorships - Crime victim compensation - Crime victim notification services - Crime witness/victim support - Criminal and delinquency prosecution - Domestic/family violence legal services - Guardianships - Juvenile diversion - Legal representation of county boards and county agencies - Paternity suits - Temporary/Permanent harassment restraining orders - Vulnerable adult protection