The women against abuse legal center is one of the nation's first legal aid programs dedicated to the needs of victims of domestic violence. The organization empowers women and men who have been abused to navigate the justice system by providing attorney representation, court advocacy and telephone counseling. Attorneys represent victims seeking protection from abuse orders, child custody and/or support. Last year, this program, in conjunction with the affiliated women against abuse legal center, Inc., Served 2,327 individuals. Philadelphia family court did not resume in person operations until July 2021, so attorney representation was provided via video conference in fy21.In addition to its direct services, the legal center is also highly engaged in systems change work that will improve philadelphia's response to domestic violence by ensuring effective screening and intervention for victims, while holding perpetrators accountable and offering them alternatives to violence. Legal center leadership worked closely with the courts and law enforcement sector to ensure that access points remained available for the public to be able to file for crucial protections from domestic violence in a timely way during covid-19. We were even able to successfully advocate with the sheriff's office to have them deliver petitions to defendants, so that our clients were not forced to travel and be exposed to possible danger during the pandemic.

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