Pace Women's Justice Center CARE Program - Court Accompaniment, Respect and Empowerment

Call on us.

Refer clients to us.

CARE Program

Volunteer for us.

Support us.

Court Accompaniment, Respect and Empowerment

Our Mission: to pursue justice for victims and prevent abuse through quality legal services, community partnerships, education, and awareness.

Pace Law School 27 Crane Avenue White Plains, NY 10603 www.law.pace.edu/wjc www.facebook.com/pacewjc Multi-language services available For more information, call: 914-422-4069 (Main Office) 914-287-0739 (Helpline) The CARE Program is generously supported by The Thomas and Agnes Carvel Foundation.

2016 Š PWJC

What is the CARE Program?

PWJC will train all volunteers.

Through the CARE Program, trained volunteers accompany domestic violence victims throughout their court experience.

Training for CARE volunteers includes four sessions which will address a range of topics, including: domestic violence and elder abuse, courtroom etiquette, legal basics, cultural sensitivity, and confidentiality.

Going to court can be a challenging process. The CARE Program ensures that our clients have the option of having a compassionate support person stay with them, helping to make our clients feel safer and not as anxious.

CARE volunteers…  Accompany

domestic violence victims to courts in White Plains, Yonkers, New Rochelle and Putnam County.

 Interact

one-on-one with clients and collaborate with attorneys before, during, and after the hearing. emotional support to PWJC clients by: providing a distraction in the waiting room prior to the hearing; sitting in the public section during the hearing (unless the client prefers otherwise); and following up after the hearing to see how they are feeling and referring them to additional resources as needed.

No legal background or prior experience is necessary to participate in this program.

Time Commitment: PWJC will work with volunteers to accommodate their schedules.

On average, each court accompaniment will last two to four hours.

 Give

 Enable

PWJC attorneys to focus on necessary legal preparation before a case.

How Can I Get Involved?

Contact Natalie J. Sobchak at nsobchak@law.pace.edu. *If you speak a second language, please include this information in the email.

What is the CARE Program?

PWJC will train all volunteers.

Through the CARE Program, trained volunteers accompany domestic violence victims throughout their court experience.

Training for CARE volunteers includes four sessions which will address a range of topics, including: domestic violence and elder abuse, courtroom etiquette, legal basics, cultural sensitivity, and confidentiality.

Going to court can be a challenging process. The CARE Program ensures that our clients have the option of having a compassionate support person stay with them, helping to make our clients feel safer and not as anxious.

CARE volunteers…  Accompany

domestic violence victims to courts in White Plains, Yonkers, New Rochelle and Putnam County.

 Interact

one-on-one with clients and collaborate with attorneys before, during, and after the hearing. emotional support to PWJC clients by: providing a distraction in the waiting room prior to the hearing; sitting in the public section during the hearing (unless the client prefers otherwise); and following up after the hearing to see how they are feeling and referring them to additional resources as needed.

No legal background or prior experience is necessary to participate in this program.

Time Commitment: PWJC will work with volunteers to accommodate their schedules.

On average, each court accompaniment will last two to four hours.

 Give

 Enable

PWJC attorneys to focus on necessary legal preparation before a case.

How Can I Get Involved?

Contact Natalie J. Sobchak at nsobchak@law.pace.edu. *If you speak a second language, please include this information in the email.

Call on us.

Refer clients to us.

CARE Program

Volunteer for us.

Support us.

Court Accompaniment, Respect and Empowerment

Our Mission: to pursue justice for victims and prevent abuse through quality legal services, community partnerships, education, and awareness.

Pace Law School 27 Crane Avenue White Plains, NY 10603 www.law.pace.edu/wjc www.facebook.com/pacewjc Multi-language services available For more information, call: 914-422-4069 (Main Office) 914-287-0739 (Helpline) The CARE Program is generously supported by The Thomas and Agnes Carvel Foundation.

2016 Š PWJC