Grant to help victims of violence

MERCER, Pa. -- Northwestern Legal Services, providing legal assistance to low-income people, has been awarded a 24-month federal grant to continue the Blossom Project with local domestic violence centers.
That list includes Alternatives for Women: Advocacy, Resources and Education (AWARE) in Mercer County, said Lizette Olsen, AWARE executive director.
AWARE's share of the Department of Justice grant is $16,800, she said.
The Blossom Project offers legal representation in cases such as divorce proceedings to victims who don't have the financial resources to hire their own attorney.
It's a critical component of AWARE's Legal Advocate program, Olsen said.
Atty. Bill Creighton has been appointed to the position of Blossom Project attorney and will work out of Northwestern Legal Services' office at 1031 Roemer Blvd., Farrell.
"In light of the general reductions in federal funding that have impacted so many programs in Mercer County, AWARE is encouraged with the on-going commitment by the U.S. Department of Justice to help victims of domestic violence," Olsen said.
The Blossom Project also offers seminars on safety issues, custody, finances, job searches, divorce, drug and alcohol abuse and relocation.
Olsen said the program served 401 people in fiscal 2002-03. That includes work on 293 temporary Protection From Abuse petitions, 15 custody cases, six support hearings and 11 divorces.