legal aid

HIRING AN ATTORNEY to handle family legal matters may seem like the only option in some situations – but what if you can’t afford to do that? There are a variety of organizations that help represent low-income Alaskans in legal matters such as child custody and divorce, and some DIY resources, too.

KTD Contributor Jessica Cochran reports on the legal clinics offered locally and on the affordable legal resources available to families in Alaska.

This story originally featured in Show 24: Family Law 101.

When families with children fall apart the legal system will most likely become involved to help sort out the details of divorce, child custody, visitation and support. So how does family law work here in Alaska? What's the first step (and subsequent steps) to take when seeking legal assistance? On this program we're learning about the basics of Alaska Family Law.

IN-STUDIO GUEST:  Joining KTD Host Shana Sheehy in the studio to discuss family law is...

• Steve Pradell is a local attorney and author of The Alaska Family Law Handbook.

RESOURCES FROM THIS PROGRAM:

• Alaska Family Law Self Help Center
• Alaska Legal Services
• Alaska Bar Association
• Alaska Youth and Parent Foundation

FEATURED STORIES:

- Affordable & DIY legal resources - KTD Contributor Jessica Cochran reports on local, affordable legal resources available to families in Alaska. [Full story + links]

- Emancipation 101 - Since 1976 in Alaska youth ages 16 and older are able to gain legal emancipation which allows minors to sign for school and medical procedures, obtain housing through a lease, sue and be sued. Paul Flahive explains how it works.

- Helping kids understand divorce - Julia Jackson, Director of Family Services at thread discusses helping kids through divorce and recommends Was It the Chocolate Pudding? as a great book resource.

ONE OF THE goals of the state's domestic violence initiative is to increase services for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault – including legal services. Advocates say victims need that legal help to break the cycle of domestic violence.

KTD contributor Jessica Cochran spoke with some of the people who help connect victims with attorneys, including the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (ANDVSA).

This story was originally featured on Show 6: Preventing Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault in Alaska.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month so this time on Kids These Days! we are exploring the programs and meeting the individuals who are working to combat the high rates of domestic violence and sexual assault (DV/SA) in our state.

IN-STUDIO GUESTS: Joining KTD Host Shana Sheehy are two guests who address the need for public awareness about these crimes while speaking about prevention measures and offeing advice for victims or those who want to help someone in need.

• Katie TePas (at left) is the the state's DV/SA Response Coordinator.

• Sgt. Cindi Stanton (at right) is the head of the Crimes Against Children Unit at the Anchorage Police Department.

** If you are in crisis and need help, call 911 or click here for statewide hotline numbers that will link you to services and shelters in your area.

RESOURCES FOR PARENTS & CHILDREN:

The Alaska Council on Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault and the UAA Justice Center partnered to produce the 2010 Alaska Victimization Survey (opens as a PDF) released last week.

• Alaska 2-1-1
• Alaska Cares
• Alaska Native Justice Center
• Alaska Office of Victims' Rights
• Alaska's Children's Advocacy Centers
• Standing Together Against Rape (STAR Alaska)
• Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for Children
• Alaska Children's Alliance
• Anchorage Police Department
• Alaska Network on Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault
• Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
• National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
• Wired Safety
• Net Smartz
• Web Wise Kids
• Safe Kids
• Obtaining a DV Protective Order (restraining order) how-to videos in English, Spanish, Yup'ik

FEATURED STORIES:

- Staying SAFE in Dillingham - Ginger Baim, the executive director of Safe and Fear-Free Environment (SAFE) in Dillingham shared her point of view on the state's new Choose Respect initiative as a professional who has been combating DV/SA in Alaska for 35 years.

- Free services for victims - KTD Contributor Jessica Cochran spoke with the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (ANDVSA) to report on the pro-bono legal and victim services available throughout the state. [Listen]

- Alaska's teens stand up against DV/SA - KTD Producer Sarah Gonzales spoke with two teens, Bo and Isis, and one adult, Lori Grassgreen, the prevention director at the ANDVSA who worked to create the Stand Up, Speak Up! media campaign produced in partnership with the Departments of Health and Social Services and Public Safety. The goal of the campaign is to promote respect - for self and others - as a means to ending interpersonal violence among teens. [Listen]

** If you are in crisis and need help, call 911 or click here for statewide hotline numbers that will link you to services and shelters in your area.