In just one year more than 8,000 women and more than 4,000 children received domestic violence services from shelters in Louisiana and more than 3,000 orders for protection were issued. The children who repeatedly witness abuse learn and accept that behavior as a correct organized pattern of relationships.


In 2009, the Louisiana Bar Foundation awarded $372,316 in grants to 20 Domestic Violence agencies across the state to help protect families, empower victims and break the cycle of violence in Louisiana. The agencies we fund enable people to leave abusive relationships and seek safety. The essential services provided by these agencies range from providing communities with a 24-hour crisis line; shelter for abused spouses and their children; legal services; education of domestic and dating violence; and establishing collaborative relationships with law enforcement, judges, clerks of court and prosecutors.

2009 LBF Domestic Violence Grantees:

Beauregard Community Concerns - June Jenkins Women's Shelter provides housing, counseling, and brief legal services to victims of domestic violence in Beauregard and Vernon Parishes. DeRidder and Leesville

Calcasieu Women's Shelter provides a variety of services to victims of domestic violence in Allen, Calcasieu, and Cameron Parishes. These services include shelter, counseling, legal advocacy, job training, adult education, and childcare. Lake Charles, Allen and Cameron

Capital Area Family Violence Intervention Center provides a variety of services to victims of domestic violence in a seven parish area surrounding Baton Rouge. CAFVIC offers shelter, legal services, education, and children’s services at both its main office and outreach offices. Baton Rouge

Catholic Charities of New Orleans - Project SAVE provides free, emergency legal representation to survivors of domestic violence in Orleans Parish. Staff attorneys help with legal orders to keep survivors safe and to protect their legal rights. Project SAVE's legal services may include temporary restraining and protection orders, temporary child support, custody, and use of property.

Chez Hope provides a variety of services to victims of domestic violence in St. Mary, Lafourche, and Assumption Parishes. Chez Hope offers shelter, legal services, education, and children's services at both its offices. Franklin and Thibodaux

D.A.R.T. of Lincoln offers a variety of services to victims of domestic violence in Bienville, Claiborne, Lincoln, Jackson, and Union, Lafourche, and Assumption Parishes. DART provides shelter, legal services, education, and children's services in its service area. Ruston, Bienville, Claiborne, Jackson and Union

Faith House provides a multitude of services to victims of domestic violence in Acadia, Evangeline, Lafayette, St. Landry, and Vermillion Parishes. These services include shelter, counseling, and legal services. The program's legal advocate assists with protective orders, sets up victim notification systems, and advocates on behalf of survivors with the justice system. Lafayette

Family Counseling Agency - Turning Point Battered Women's Program provides services to victims of domestic violence in Avoyelles, Catahoula, Concordia, Grant, LaSalle, Rapides, and Winn Parishes. The program has a 38-bed shelter and offers counseling, life-skill education, children's services, and legal advocacy. Alexandria

The Haven works to establish a community-based response to interpersonal and family violence through advocacy, education, prevention, resource development, and treatment. The Haven operates an 18-bed shelter in Houma and runs a legal advocacy program that assists victims of domestic violence in navigating the restraining order process. Houma

Jeff Davis Communities Against Domestic Violence is a domestic violence program serving the rural Jefferson Davis Parish. The program's services includes a legal advocacy component, which assists survivors of domestic violence with filling out temporary restraining orders, supports them during court appearances, and helps with referrals to attorneys for more advanced legal matters. Jennings

Metropolitan Center for Women and Children serves survivors of domestic violence in Jefferson, Orleans, St. Charles, St. James, and St. John Parishes. Metro provides direct legal services to survivors, works closely with the Clerks of Courts, and assists battered women with filing protective orders in all five parishes. New Orleans, Jefferson, St. Charles, St. John, St. James

My Sister's House of the Felicianas is a community-based grass roots organization established to provide comprehensive services to rural victims of domestic violence residing in East and West Feliciana parishes. The program launched in 2007. Clinton

New Start Center provides safety measures and support to the victims of abuse through a variety of services, including assistance in filing Temporary Restraining Orders, Protective Orders, counseling, temporary safe housing, and transportation. New Start Center also educates the community about domestic violence awareness and about the impact of domestic violence on the family. St. Martinville

Project Celebration - Taylor House Domestic Violence Shelter serves survivors of domestic violence in DeSoto and Sabine Parishes. The program provides shelter, legal advocacy, and other services in these two rural parishes. Many

Safe Harbor provides shelter and a variety of other services to victims of domestic violence in St. Tammany and Washington Parishes. Safe Harbor's legal outreach program assists women with the preparation of petitions for temporary restraining orders and protective orders and provides court escort for hearings. Covington and Slidell

St. Bernard Battered Women's Program serves victims of domestic violence in St. Bernard and Plaquemines Parishes. The program offers a wide variety of services, including a 50-bed shelter and a legal advocacy program, which assists victims with completing the petitions for protective orders, educates them on the cycle of abuse, informs them of their rights under the Crime Victim's Reparation Act, and accompanies them to court for their hearing.

The Wellspring Alliance for Families works to strengthen the family and individuals through direct service, education, advocacy, and women's leadership. The Wellspring's domestic violence program provides safe shelter, a crisis hotline, and legal advocacy for victims in the northeast corner of Louisiana. The Wellspring is an active partner of the Family Justice Center in Monroe, which is a multi-agency collaboration between legal services, social services, and law enforcement that provides a coordinated response to the needs of victims of domestic violence. Monroe

YWCA of Northwest Louisiana provides shelter and legal advocacy services to victims of domestic violence in the Caddo-Bossier area. The legal advocacy component of the program assists victims in navigating the restraining order process. Shreveport

Safety Net for Abused Persons serves battered women and their children in Iberia Parish. SNAP provides safe shelter and extensive supportive services in its confidentially located 22-bed facility. SNAP provides legal advocacy for victims and educational workshops and seminars in the community. New Iberia

______________________________________________________________________________________ Statistics and facts: National Coalition Against Domestic Violence; The National Network to End Domestic Violence; Violence Policy Center based on FBI data; the Governor's Office on Women's Policy