Domestic Violence and Family Law: Legal Alliance for Survivors of Abuse Project
The Goal of the Legal Alliance for Survivors of Abuse (formerly known as LARS: Legal Access To Rural Shelters) is to meet the need for coordinated legal services for victims of domestic violence in rural areas of Texas.
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- Paralegals
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- About
- LASA Shelter Partners
Paralegals
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Federal Agencies
- Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
- Office of Child Support Enforcement Forms
- National Women’s Health Information Center one-stop gateway for women’s health resources, including resources for victims of violence
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
- National Mental Health Services Knowledge Exchange Network provides extensive resources for survivors of abuse, including a searchable database of mental health services
- Department of Justice (DOJ)
- Bureau of Justice Statistics provides the most current statistics on domestic and sexual violence
- National Institute of Justice Site on Violence Against Women and Family Violence provides information about federal research, grants, and conferences
- National Criminal Justice Reference Service federal clearinghouse for information about criminal justice and drug control
- Office for Victims of Crime provides information about state victims’ assistance programs
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Family & Intimate Violence Prevention Program national program to monitor and prevent domestic violence
- National Center for State Courts independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to the improvement of justice.
- Department of State
- Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs
- Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, Children and Travel
- For additional information related to child abduction and federal agencies, see Texas Riogrande Legal Aid: Bi-National Project.
State Agencies
- Office of the Attorney General
- Office of the Texas Attorney General: Protective Orders all about protective orders including downloadable protective order kit
- Child Support Program
- Crime Victims’ Services
- Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC)
- Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS)
- Parent’s Guide to Child Protective Services (CPS) Investigations
- Guia para los Padres a la Investigacion de Servicios de Proteccion al Menor (CPS)
- Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS): Prevention and Early Intervention Programs
- Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS): Report Abuse, Neglect, or Exploitation
- Department of Public Safety
- Victims’ Services information about victims’ rights and crime victims’ compensation
- Notice to Adult Victims of Family Violence information about victims’ rights
- Youth Commission operates correctional and rehabilitative programs for juvenile offenders
Legal Resources
- American Bar Association Commission on Domestic Violence
- The American Psychological Association Report of The American Psychological Association Presidential Task Force on Violence And The Family
- Battered Women’s Justice Project partnership of programs that address the criminal and civil justice response to domestic violence and the defense of battered women charged with crimes
- Domestic Violence Intervention Project Battered Women’s Justice Project program addressing the criminal justice response to domestic violence, including the development of batterers’ rehabilitation programs
- Legal Resource Center on Violence Against Women
- The Liz Library LizNotes on family law politics and child custody
- Legal Momentum: Women's Legal Defense and Education Fund (Formerly the NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund) education and legal action to secure equality and justice for all women
- Legal Momentum: Violence Against Women Page provides legal updates, court decisions, and legal resources and links
- National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges Family Violence Department promotes improved court responses to family violence
- Resource Center on Domestic Violence: Child Protection & Custody provides information and assistance to judges, advocates, lawyers, child protection workers, and other professionals
- National Immigration Project of the National Lawyer’s Guild
- VisaLaw.com - Immigration Law Portal provides materials on the immigration provisions of the Violence Against Women Act
- Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence Battered Women’s Justice Project program addressing the civil court access and legal representation of battered women
- Pension Rights Group General Info (interesting legislative proposals under Women’s Pension)
- QDRO The Division of Pensions through Qualified Domestic Relations Orders publication from the Dept. of Labor website
- State Bar of Texas Family Law Section
- Texas Young Lawyers Association Pro Se resource for Family Law
- Women’s Advocacy Project, Inc. statewide non-profit legal organization providing free legal advice and education to Texas women in need
- Support Guidelines.com comprehensive resource for the interpretation and application of child support guidelines in the United States
- Women’s Law Website provides easy-to-understand legal information and resources to women living with or escaping domestic violence
24-Hour Domestic Violence, Abuse, and Family Crisis Hotlines
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911 right away
- National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-SAFE calls are automatically routed to the domestic violence shelter nearest the caller. A project of the Texas Council on Family Violence
- Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN) 1-800-656-HOPE calls are automatically routed to the nearest rape crisis center
- Child Find Hotline 1-800-I-AM-LOST provides assistance in locating missing children and in preventing and resolving parental abductions. Operates a second hotline, 1-800-A-WAY-OUT, for parents considering abducting their children
- Childhelp USA National Child Abuse Hotline 1-800-4-A-CHILD provides crisis counseling and referrals
- Covenant House Hotline 1-800-999-9999 provides crisis intervention and referral services to homeless youth, runaways, and other troubled youth and their families
- Girls and Boys Town Hotline 1-800-448-3000 provides counseling and community referrals to troubled youths and their families
- KidsPeace Helpine 1-800-334-4KID provides counseling, advice, and referrals to children, parents, and professionals
- National Center for Missing and Exploited Children 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) hotline to report missing children or to request information about child protection
- National Center for Missing Youth, Operation Lookout 1-800-782-SEEK hotline accepting reports of missing children or sightings of missing children
- National Runaway Switchboard 1-800-621-4000 provides crisis intervention, local referrals, and message-relaying services to runaways and their families
- National Center for Victims of Crime InfoLink, 1-800-FYI-CALL provides information, crisis intervention, counseling, referrals, and other services to victims of crime. The hotline is available weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Central Time
- National Youth Crisis Hotline, 1-800-442-HOPE provides counseling and referrals to youths in crisis
- Texas Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Reporting System 1-800-252-5400 24-hour Dept. of Protective and Regulatory Services hotline accepting reports of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of children, the elderly, or people with disabilities
- Texas Runaway Hotline 1-888-580-HELP provides counseling and community assistance referrals to youths and their families
- Texas Youth Hotline 1-800-98-YOUTH provides crisis counseling and prevention to youths and families for family conflicts, delinquency, truancy, abuse and neglect, and running away
- Youth Crisis Hotline 1-800-HIT-HOME provides crisis intervention and counseling for emotional, spiritual, and social problems
Research and Statistics
- Aardvarc a collection of resources, news, and information concerning abuse, rape, and domestic violence
- Bureau of Justice Statistics provides the most current statistics on domestic and sexual violence
- Communities Against Violence Network (CAVNET) comprehensive, searchable database of domestic violence and sexual violence statistics
- Domestic Violence and Violence Related Research Resources great link to DV resources.
- Institute on Domestic Violence in the African-American Community provides research and policy analysis
- Resources on Sexual Assault collection of information and resources
- MINCAVA (Minnesota Center Against Violence and Abuse) clearinghouse for research and reports on all aspects of domestic violence
- National Criminal Justice Reference Service federal clearinghouse for information about criminal justice and drug control
- Extent, Nature, and Consequences of Intimate Partner Violence: A Report Based on Findings from the National Violence Against Women Survey in Adobe Acrobat
- National Sexual Violence Resource Center provides information and technical assistance to community-based organizations. A project of the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape
- Sexual Assault Information Page archive page - information concerning rape, incest, child sexual abuse, and sexual harassment
- VAWnet (National Electronic Network on Violence Against Women) online resource library foradvocates working to end violence against women and children. A project of the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence
- Violence Against Women Online Resources up-to-date information on programs to address domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, as well as information about child protection and custody and welfare reform. Sponsored by the DOJ VAWA office and the Minnesota Center Against Violence and Abuse
- Violence Against Women Online Resources collection of information on stalking and anti-stalking measures. Includes extensive links
Texas Domestic Violence Advocacy Organizations
- Texas Council on Family Violence provides victims services and advocacy to end violence against women and children
- Directory of Family Violence Shelters in Texas this directory is updated monthly
- Legal Options for Battered Individuals in Texas information about protective orders, magistrate orders, stalking, divorce, custody, visitation, mediation, and alimony
- Magistrate Orders orders for emergency protection. In Adobe Acrobat
- Immigration and the Violence Against Women Act F.A.Q.
- Texas Association Against Sexual Assault provides support to assault survivors and education and advocacy to end sexual violence
Child Abuse and Children’s Advocacy
- Texas OAG Child Abuse Information Sheet
- National Center for Youth Law addresses problems concerning abuse, neglect, health care, public benefits, housing, detention, and child support
- Prevent Child Abuse America provides education and advocacy to prevent child abuse
- CyberParent.com includes extensive articles and resources on child abuse and trauma and domestic violence
Health Resources
- National Health Resource Center on Domestic Violence extensive health and policy resources. A project of the Family Violence Prevention Fund
National Domestic Violence Advocacy
- Abused Deaf Women’s Advocacy Services addresses domestic violence within the deaf community. 24-hour TTY Domestic Violence Crisis Line: (206) 236-3134
- American Institute on Domestic Violence focuses on the effects of domestic violence in the workplace
- Arte Sana promotes the healing of sexual assault and intimate partner violence through art and music. Also supports gender violence prevention efforts in Latin America
- Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence New-England based organization offering education, counseling, and advocacy
- Feminists for Animal Rights Companion Animal Rescue Effort (CARE) operates a foster home network for companion animals of battered women
- National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence designs, provides, and customizes training and consultation, influences policy, promotes collaboration and enhances diversity with the goal of ending domestic and sexual violence.
- National Coalition Against Domestic Violence dedicated to eliminating personal and societal violence against women and children. Site includes extensive statistics and resources
- Public Policy Office provides information on federal and local advocacy efforts
- National Network to End Domestic Violence, Inc. alliance of state domestic violence coalitions. Site provides news and information for domestic violence advocates
- Center for the Prevention of Sexual and Domestic Violence interfaith organization dedicated to ending violence in the religious community. Includes information about sexual assault by clergy
- Health Resource Center on Domestic Violence information about health care for victims of domestic violence
- Feminist Majority
- Global Alliance Against Traffick in Women advocacy to end human trafficking. Site includes extensive statistics and info on current laws
- NOW and Violence Against Women includes statistics, articles from the NOW newsletter, and updates on research and conferences
- National Sexual Violence Resource Center University of Pennsylvania-based center for information, technical assistance, and policy resources
- SafetyNet abuse information and contacts for coalitions, shelters, and rape crisis centers in every state
- Sacred Circle: National Resource Center to End Violence Against Native Women supports efforts to end domestic violence among federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native tribes in the U.S. E-mail: scircle@sacred-circle.com
- The Survivor’s Page links and resources for survivors of sexual abuse and rape
- WEAVE-Women Escaping a Violent Environment resources for domestic violence prevention, sexual assault prevention, and victim assistance
- Domestic Violence Notepad provides links to many domestic violence websites including a directory of women lawyers
Divorce Resources
- Divorce: An Overview courtesy of Cornell’s Legal Information Institute
- DivorceNet the web’s largest divorce resource
- Divorce Source divorce resources, bulletin boards, and chat rooms
Child Custody Resources
- Child Custody: An Overview ourtesy of Cornell’s Legal Information Institute
- Child Custody and Visitation Decisions in Domestic Violence Cases: Legal Trends, Research Findings, and Resources provided by Violence Against Women Online Resources, a service of the University of Minnesota
Immigration and Domestic Violence
- National Immigration Forum
- National Immigration Law Center
- National Immigration Project of the National Lawyer’s Guild
- Center for Public Policy Priorities Immigration and Public Benefits Policy Pages provide news and information about policies affecting immigrants’ eligibility for public benefits
- Immigration Benefits for Battered Spouses or Children provides information on how to apply for immigration benefits for battered spouses or children.
Violence Aagainst People With Disabilities
- Accessing Safety (OVW)Addressing the issue of violence against individuals with disabilities and Deaf individuals.
Crime Victims’ Advocacy
- Texas Office of the Attorney General Crime Victims Services
- Crime Victims’ Compensation Program provides assistance to injured victims of crime and their families
- Informacion en Espanol
- Domestic Violence: A Personal Safety Plan
- Protective Orders includes information about what protective orders are and when and how they can be obtained
- Stalking includes information about the Texas Stalking Law
- Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime
- National Center for Victims of Crime provides information, referrals, and services
- InfoLink, 1-800-FYI-CALL provides information, crisis intervention, counseling, referrals, and other services to victims of crime. The hotline is available weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Central Time
- National Organization for Victim Assistance, 1-800-TRY-NOVA provides information, referrals, and assistance to victims of crime and disaster
Stalking
- Stalking includes information about the Texas Stalking Law
- Institute for Law and Justice Research on Stalking collection of information on stalking and anti-stalking measures nationwide
- The National Victims Center: Stalking Resource Center includes information about different types of stalkers, strategies for reducing odds of harm and more
- Privacy Rights Clearinghouse Stalking Fact Sheet includes information about stalking laws and tips for stalking victims
- Domestic Violence and Stalking: A Comment on the Model Anti-Stalking Code Proposed by the NIJ 1994 report by Nancy Lemon for the Battered Women’s Justice Project. Includes information about stalking, stalking laws, and an analysis of the anti-stalking code from a domestic violence perspective
Self-Defense
- American Self Defense Institute includes tips to avoid confrontations and to survive confrontations
- American Women’s Self Defense Association (AWSDA) organization training women in self-defense. Includes links and info on membership
Guardianship Services
Economic Resources
Publications
- Family Advocate quarterly membership magazine from the ABA Family Law Section
- Family Law Quarterly scholarly journal published by the ABA Family Law Section
The Domestic Violence and Family Law: Legal Alliance for Survivors of Abuse Project
Texas Riogrande Legal Aid (TRLA) began the Legal Assistance to Rural Shelters (LARS) project in 1999 to meet the need for coordinated legal services for victims of domestic violence in rural areas of Texas.
Through the LARS project partnership, TRLA ensures that at their initial point of contact with a domestic violence shelter, victims receive free, high quality legal assistance that is critical to breaking the cycle of violence. By offering victims legal services at the shelters where they often first turn for help, and by providing legal advice to them at the same site, the LARS project greatly increases victim safety, autonomy and the establishment of a life free from violence.
Legal Assistance to Rural Shelters (LARS) is unique because it is the only service in Texas that links attorneys providing free civil legal aid directly to domestic violence shelters in 68 counties along the Texas-Mexico border.
Our Shelter Partners Include:
- Family Crisis Center of the Big Bend
- Safeplace
- Family Crisis Center (Bastrop)
- Friendship of Women
- Wintergarden Women's Shelter Inc.
- Women's Shelter of South Texas
- Center Against Family Violence
- Southwest Family Life Center
- Hill Country Cares
- Family Crisis Center (Harlingen)
- Casa de Misericordia
- Highland Lakes Family Crisis Center
- Mujeres Unidas
- Crisis Center of Comal County
- Atascosa Family Crisis Center, Inc.
- Family Violence Prevention Services, Inc.
- Hays-Caldwell Women's Center
- Guadalupe Valley Family Violence Shelter
- Hope Alliance, Mid-Coast Family Services
- You are here:
TRLA Home- Del Rio Public Defender Office
- About The Legal Access to Rural Shelters Project