Advocacy

Legal and Criminal Justice Advocacy

Legal advocates are a free and confidential resource to help program participants navigate the legal system in criminal and civil protective order cases.

Legal advocates can:

Support program participants and explore options available to them.
Explain criminal and protective court processes.
Assist program participants by working with local police, city, and county attorneys to advocate on the program participants’ behalf.
Assist in filing Orders for Protection and Harassment Restraining Orders. In many cases civil protective orders can be filed at no cost.
Attend protective order and criminal court hearings with participants to provide information and support.
Accompany victims of a sexual assault, domestic assault and/or stalking to report to law enforcement.
Offer immediate safety planning, crime victim advocacy, and explanation of criminal court procedures following a domestic or sexual assault in Isanti, Chisago, Pine, Kanabec, and Carlton Counties.
Explain financial remedies available for victims/survivors of a sexual or domestic assault.
Extend program participants’ safety through Order for Protection Modifications and Extensions and referrals for assistance in family court matters.

Sexual Assault Advocacy

Connecting Survivors to Care
To meet the needs of victims/survivors in crisis, Family Pathways works in partnership with medical service providers within Isanti, Chisago, Kanabec, Pine, and Carlton Counties to enhance service provision and support efforts within the community. Staff and volunteers are trained to provide 24-hour support and advocacy services to victims/survivors of both domestic and sexual violence who disclose abuse concerns to their healthcare provider.

Healthcare advocacy services are provided to patients at Fairview Lakes Medical, Cambridge Medical, Welia Health, Essentia Health Sandstone, Essentia Health Moose Lake, and Community Memorial.

Advocates will meet with victims/survivors in any treatment care unit within the hospitals as well as any designated areas of the clinics. Advocates will provide medical advocacy through support during forensic exams, provide emotional support during medical and criminal processes, and provide assistance with planning for medical appointments.