For the fifth year in a row, the Foundation is partnering with the Ohio Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) to provide grants to Ohio’s legal aid organizations to support critical legal services for domestic relations cases.
AAML, an organization dedicated to family law and a long-time supporter of legal aid, has committed $140,000 to the Foundation to support Ohio’s legal aids over four years, much of which has funded legal services to address the civil legal needs of domestic violence survivors.
Because of funding from AAML, legal aid was able to represent domestic violence survivors like Andrea Cooper*, a 60-year-old disabled Navy veteran residing in a rural county in Northeast Ohio. For years, Ms. Cooper suffered verbal, physical, and emotional abuse at the hands of her husband. Although Ms. Cooper filed for a divorce, her abuser’s behavior did not change. When Ms. Cooper’s abuser refused to comply with the court’s order to vacate her house, she contacted a local domestic violence shelter, where she was put in touch with legal aid.
Legal aid represented Ms. Cooper in a civil protection hearing, where she was granted a five-year Civil Protection Order. Thanks to legal aid, Ms. Cooper now has peace of mind knowing that she is legally protected from her abuser.
“It takes a network of support to help domestic violence survivors find safety, healing, and stability,” said Camille Gill, the Foundation’s programs and grants counsel. “Our partnership with AAML has been instrumental in ensuring survivors can access critical legal services and rebuild their lives.”
*Name has been changed to protect client privacy.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. A gift to the Foundation supports Ohio’s legal aids working to help domestic violence survivors.