ABLE's Medical Legal Partnership for Children's Response to Opioid Crisis

OVC’s mission is to enhance the nation’s capacity to assist crime victims and provide leadership in changing policies and practices to promote justice and healing for all victims of crime. OVC achieves this mission, in part, by administering discretionary award programs supported by the federal Crime Victims Fund to develop innovative training and technical assistance, and to provide direct services to improve the overall quality of victim assistance. The purpose of this solicitation is to address an urgent gap in crime victim services related to the opioid epidemic and to expand upon existing or establish new programs to provide services to children and youth who are victimized as the result of the opioid crisis. Projects selected under this solicitation will support service providers in expanding their current scope and expertise to ensure that children and youth—the most vulnerable victims impacted by the opioid crisis—are supported as they heal from the impact of crime and substance abuse.

With this award, the Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, Inc.’s Medical Legal Partnership for Children (MLPC) will provide free, holistic, trauma-informed civil legal services ranging from personalized legal advice to full representation in cases where children affected by the opioid crisis have the greatest need, including cases related to obtaining civil protection orders, resolving custody disputes and other family law matters, education matters, access to safe and healthy housing, and access to public benefits and health care. The MLPC will also work collaboratively with Montgomery County’s Community Overdose Action Team (COAT), its members, and other organizations to improve the community’s response to the needs of children and youth who are victims of crime as a result of the opioid crisis. (CA/NCF)