Family Law Clinics Offer Legal Services to Families in Need
By Betsy Sitkoff
For most women who have suffered from domestic abuse, leaving the relationship does not necessarily stop the abuse. It is a challenge to move forward and put the horrors behind you. Additionally, many victims lack the needed resources necessary to break completely free from their abusers.
The Jewish Domestic Abuse Collaborative (JDAC), a joint project of Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Minneapolis (JFCS) and Jewish Family Service of St. Paul, provides services to assist people in need to make the best choices for themselves and their children. Services offered include mental health counseling, employment and career development, and one-on-one advocates who offer emotional and moral support. JDAC also works closely with other domestic abuse service providers to make sure the entire family’s needs are met.
One of the biggest challenges faced by JDAC is helping people access legal services. When a woman leaves an abuser, child custody issues and financial security are at stake. Often the abuser’s control and manipulation continue if the victims are unable to defend themselves.
When people have access to qualified lawyers who are skilled in family law and knowledgeable about the dynamics of abuse, they are able to make the best, most informed choices for themselves and their children. This is something most victims- especially women- can not afford. In addition to a lack of finances, people may be unaware of how to access an attorney and the services they provide.
A consistent resource for JDAC has been Tubman Legal Services. Tubman provides legal services to address a variety of domestic abuse and family law issues. To provide this vast array of services, Tubman relies mainly on volunteer attorneys. As wonderful as this is, it limits Tubman’s ability to respond because the need is much larger than the current resources.
To provide more opportunities for JFCS clients to access legal services, JDAC and Tubman have developed a partnership to provide family law clinics at JFCS one evening a month.
These family law clinics are open to anyone who has family law issues. Participants will have the opportunity to meet with a volunteer attorney for 30 minutes to discuss their family law issue. Volunteer attorneys will explain legal rights and options, review documents and provide legal advice.
In the past, many clients have discussed issues ranging from divorce, parenting plans including custody and parenting time, employment, child support, domestic abuse, paternity, post-divorce matters, and property disputes.
The next family law clinic will meet at JFCS offices at 13100 Wayzata Boulevard, Minnetonka 55305 on Tuesday, April 13 from 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Pre-registration is required and space is very limited. To register, please call Tubman at 612-870-2400. There is a $15 fee but this can be waived for those unable to pay.
For more information about the family law clinics and JDAC, please e-mail Betsy Sitkoff at bsitkoff@jfcsmpls.org or call her at 952-542-4833.
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Betsy Sitkoff is Program Manager of the Jewish Community Health Awareness Initiative.
