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19th Circuit Court Judges Recognize A Safe Place VolunteersPamela Kopach, Lake Forest, and Joan Lomont, Riverwoods, received the 2002 Liberty Bell Award, recognizing them for outstanding commitment and victim advocacy, from the 19th Circuit Court Judges of Lake and McHenry counties during Law Day ceremonies at the Lake County Courthouse. Both women are longtime volunteers in A Safe Room, operated by A Safe Place/ Lake County Crisis Center, the nonprofit agency responsible for comprehensive services for domestic violence victims. As trained volunteers, Kopach and Lomont join A Safe Place court advocates in providing victims of domestic violence assistance in preparing paperwork necessary to obtain orders of protection and in accompanying them into hearings in the two domestic violence courtrooms in Lake County. Lomont has volunteered in various capacities for A Safe Place since 1991; Kopach since 1994. A Safe Place's court advocacy program debuted in 1994. Long recognized as a vital element in helping assure victim safety to survivors of domestic violence, the program was selected by the Illinois Attorney General as the State’s top crime victim advocacy program in 1997 and was honored again in 1998. Nearly two dozen volunteers join bilingual, bicultural staff in assisting survivors obtain nearly 2,000 orders of protection annually. A Safe Place provides comprehensive shelter, counseling, and advocacy services to nearly 3,300 survivors of domestic violence from Lake, McHenry and northern Cook counties annually. A 24-hour HELP LINE is available at 1-847.249.4450; TTY 847.249.6557.
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Everyone has the right to a violence-free, safe and healthy life. Copyright ©2001-2007 A Safe Place. All rights reserved. |
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