Special Services to Victims of Domestic Violence

The Edward Byrne Memorial Discretionary Grants Program (Byrne Discretionary Program) helps local communities improve the capacity of local justice systems and provides for national support efforts. This project is authorized and funded through a line item in the FY 08 Congressional Budget. Funds should be used for purposes recommended by Congress.

The Lutheran Settlement House, a special urban ministry of the Lutheran Church in southeastern Pennsylvania, will support their Bilingual Domestic Violence Program. They will provide a coordinated network of services, which includes crisis counseling, a 24-hour city-wide hotline, ongoing individual and group counseling, court, legal and medical advocacy, transitional housing, and education and training. The client-centered services will enable women to focus on personalized skill development such as self-esteem and assertiveness, explore strategies to reduce anxiety or stress, access community resources such as job training, health care, or child care, or cope with welfare-to-work transitions. The Lutheran Settlement House will offer counseling, advocacy and educational services to domestic violence victims, their friends, family members and other persons interested in ending abuse from all parts of Philadelphia, surrounding counties, and southern New Jersey.

NCA/NCF