My Nonprofit Reviews

FVAP continues to do excellent legal work, providing free appeals to survivors of domestic violence. In only 9 years, it has filed over 50 appeals, won a very high percentage of them, and been responsible for over 40 published decisions in California that clarify and strengthen the laws benefitting domestic violence survivors and their children. By co-counseling with attorneys outside FVAP, this non-profit leverages its ability to take on many cases simultaneously while maintaining very high quality of work.

This agency opened its doors in summer 2012, and in 6 short years, has been responsible for 32 published appellate decisions in California, a remarkable achievement. Each of the decisions is citable and used by advocates, survivors of abuse, attorneys and judges, and helps end the epidemic of domestic violence. The cases deal with restraining orders, custody, spousal support, and immigration matters affecting survivors of domestic violence and their children. The agency also provides a great deal of free technical assistance on family law matters to attorneys, advocates, and self represented people all over California. It has become a major player in the legal services and domestic violence communities, and is a huge asset.

After 4+ years of operation, FVAP continues to be a significant force in moving the law forward for survivors of domestic violence and their children in California. It has won and/or obtained publication of many key appellate decisions. Judges are calling FVAP to ask what they should cover when they train other judges about domestic violence in family law cases. People in other states are asking how they can create similar projects, and FVAP has agreed to help them. FVAP co counsels with pro bono attorneys to leverage its small staff and thus has never turned away a case due to lack of resources. It's a great non profit.

I love this agency. Operating with a small staff, law student interns, and a statewide team of excellent pro bono attorneys who co counsel on briefs, it manages to make very efficient use of its budget, almost all of which goes to operating expenses.

And it's building a body of published family law appellate cases dealing with domestic violence. Before FVAP came into being only 3 years ago, there were very few such cases, and courts had little guidance on questions like "what is abuse if there are no broken bones and black eyes?"

FVAP is clearly meeting an unmet need, having screened over 400 cases so far. Last year alone FVAP was involved in 9 published CA cases and several unpublished ones, all of which move us closer to ending domestic violence and ensuring that children are safer in their families.

With a success rate of over 80%, almost unheard of in appellate work, this is really a non-profit that is making a huge difference in California.

I helped found the Partnership, as I served on the board of CAADV and worked on merging that group with SCCBW (these were 2 different DV coalitions, both in Ca.). I have been a member of the Public Policy and Research Committee of CAADV, now CPEDV, since 1983. I am happy with how CPEDV is operating, as it is a very vital organization, playing an essential role in helping to address and end domestic violence in our state. The annual conferences, the webinars, the conference calls, the amicus committee, the policy work, etc. are so important and the leadership is solid.

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