About Us
Advocates | Legal Clinics | Domestic Violence Programs | Community Services
Project Safeguard is a Colorado community based non-profit agency dedicated to ending violence experienced by women in intimate relationships. Effective and immediate advocacy and support is essential for women hoping to escape domestic violence. It is a difficult decision women make knowing they must reveal their most frightening secret to strangers, begin their lives over, face financial burdens and parenting challenges as well as the criminal and or civil justice systems.
Our approach to eradication of domestic violence is through the legal system. Specially trained legal advocates assist women and their children when seeking protection from violence and stalking through the courts. We also attack domestic violence through collaborations with other community and system-based agencies. Together we develop recommendations designed to ensure a proactive approach to domestic violence, improved response to victims and adequate resources for those victims as well as accountability of perpetrators.
Project Safeguard provides services to English and monolingual Spanish speaking women in addition to maintaining a toll free advocacy line that bridges the needs of women experiencing domestic violence in communities throughout the state.
Advocates
See Advocacy & Support Line.
Back to top
Legal Clinics
Two types of legal clinics are available through Project Safeguard:
- Protection Order Clinics; and
- Legal Advocacy and Assistance Clinics.
Temporary Protection Order Clinics are held daily in Aurora, Brighton, Broomfield and Denver. In addition to forms, information, safety plans and referrals, clients are accompanied to the courtroom for emotional support throughout the process.
With the award of a temporary protection order, the client receives a return court date for hearing of testimony and the court decision regarding permanence of the orders. At this time, the advocate can assist the client in completing service of court documents to the defendant as necessary and schedule a Permanent Protection Order preparation clinic.
The Permanent Protection Order Clinic assists the client in preparing to present her case to the court without benefit of an attorney by explaining who participates in the hearing, where to stand, how to address the court, what evidence may be needed to prove her case, how to subpoena witnesses and what kinds of question witnesses should be asked.
Legal Advocacy and Assistance Clinics are two part workshops facilitated by an attorney and designed to assist those women who are seeking divorce and or allocation of parental responsibility (custody) without benefit of an attorney.
Part A convenes weekly and provides the necessary forms, walks clients through the documents, provides filing cost information, appropriate filing locations and methods to accomplish service of court documents to the respondent.
Part B and C are conducted monthly.
Part B addresses the issues of temporary spousal maintenance, child support and parenting plans.
Part C addresses the finalization of the divorce, spousal support, child support and parenting plans.
Project Safeguard clinics are appropriate for all jurisdictions, presented in English and Spanish and there is never a charge to clients for these services.
Back to top
Domestic Violence Programs
In addition to the direct services available for women experiencing domestic violence, Project Safeguard pioneered, implemented and continues to maintain two nationally recognized research and prevention programs. Both CourtWatch and Fatality Review are programs first developed and launched by Project Safeguard. These distinguished programs have received recognition throughout the domestic violence community and have been replicated across the country.
Back to top
Community Services
Project Safeguard develops and distributes educational and informational materials throughout the Denver metro community. These materials provide referral and contact information for shelters, food, clothing, social programs, victim rights, law enforcement and other practical needs for women experiencing domestic violence. Additionally, our advocates have prepared and distribute helpful materials focused on recognition of violence, methods of intervention, safety planning and other community support services for family or friends of women experiencing domestic violence.
Whenever there is an opportunity, the Project Safeguard staff is available for presentations about domestic violence, its effect on society, the cost to the community and businesses, its effects on children and how to help.
Back to top
|
