Blending LEgal and Social services
Connecting families with needed support is vital to successful Family Support. Sadly, among the many needs facing families, legal support and guidance remains in scant supply.
Enter, June Krumpotick from Legal Voice (formerly Northwest Women’s Law Center). June’s efforts to build Legal Voice’s Legal Information and Referral (I&R) telephone line and Self Help Program have uniquely blended social and legal services to provide resources to families who cannot otherwise afford legal services. These services provide families with the vital information they need to navigate the legal system and protect their families.
On the receiving end of the I&R line awaits a staff of volunteers, eager to offer callers up-to-date information about Washington law, referrals to community services and attorneys, problem-solving help, and a wealth of self help materials. The Self Help Committee responds to the legal issues raised by callers by adding relevant information to its ever-growing library of educational booklets, in order to provide resources for people throughout Washington. As callers’ needs evolve, so do Legal Voice’s services (i.e., adding its Language Line interpreter service in 2008).
Family issues can encompass many legal issues—such as real estate, custody, debt, discrimination, etc.—so it is challenging to find a legal service that does it all. The I&R line is a resource that begins to address all of those issues, but “the problem is that people don’t know what’s available to them,” says June, and “70% of Family Law cases are represented without legal assistance.”
“If you think there should be a law addressing your need then there probably is one. Families don’t realize how much the law can help them. Too many of our callers think that they don’t have options,” says June. “When they call, we will give them five.”
Legal Voice wants to help callers make the legal decisions they want to make for their family by in giving “as much information as is asked for.” “Each family wants to be strong and trusting families is really important,” says June.