Standing with Survivors

As COVID-19 began shutting everything down in metro-Atlanta, one thing was very clear to our Cobb staff: we must continue to help survivors of domestic violence. 

So our staff immediately got to work. In those haphazard first few weeks when we were all scrambling to adjust to our new reality, Attorney Kate Gaffney worked with the Court and liveSAFE Resources to transition to 12 Month TPO hearings by video conferencing systems. Temporary Protective Orders (TPOs) are often essential to protecting survivors of intimate partner violence and their children.

Even with all of the expected challenges — technology barriers and communication difficulties, to name a couple — the Cobb team has been successful in getting TPOs for their clients. With their stellar work and flexibility in adapting to these new systems, they have helped to ensure that survivors of intimate partner violence have safer environments in which to shelter. 

In addition to Legal Aid’s staff of committed attorneys and paralegals, our amazing volunteers in the community have reached out to help as well. Volunteer attorney Ben Persons successfully represented a client in a video hearing and obtained an extension of a TPO.  liveSAFE Resources and the local courts continue to do an excellent job of serving families impacted by violence during this difficult time. 

Thank you to all of our incredible staff & volunteers for continuing to fight for justice for our clients!

If you are the victim of domestic violence, please know that DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAMS & COURTS ARE STILL OPEN for essential matters like these. You can find help in your area and more information:

24hr Georgia Statewide Domestic Violence Hotline: Call 1-800-33HAVEN (2836)

Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence: www.gcadv.org

Atlanta Legal Aid Society: https://atlantalegalaid.org/