Alameda County Family Justice Center Receives $70,000 From Verizon to Enhance the Delivery of Services for Victims of Domestic Violence

LOS ANGELES, March 30 /PRNewswire/ -- The Alameda County Family Justice Center has received a $70,000 grant from the Verizon Foundation to develop a system to help health care providers, social service agencies and law enforcement coordinate efforts to assist domestic violence survivors.

The grant will be used to train providers to use the Domestic Violence Reporting & Referral Project, which enables health care providers to fill out an easy-to-use online reporting form when treating victims of domestic violence. The form is then made available to law enforcement and social service agencies that can quickly refer the survivor to the appropriate services.

Since 2008, Verizon has awarded $152,500 to the Alameda County Family Justice Center for the project, which closes the communications gap between health care providers, law enforcement and domestic violence agencies.  

"Responding to the urgent need for innovative solutions in domestic violence reporting, Verizon stepped up and provided the Family Justice Center the funding to use technology to create a seamless interaction between service providers," said Nadia Davis-Lockyer, the center's executive director.

Kevin Zavaglia, Verizon Wireless region president, said, "Enabling health care providers to quickly and compassionately provide information and access to vital services is essential in creating a better tomorrow for victims and their children.  Verizon is proud to partner with the Alameda County Family Justice Center to make that a reality."

The Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications, supports the advancement of literacy and K-12 education through its free educational Web site, Verizon Thinkfinity (www.thinkfinity.org), and fosters awareness and prevention of domestic violence.  In 2009, the Verizon Foundation awarded $67.9 million in grants to nonprofit agencies in the U.S. and abroad.  It also matched the charitable donations of Verizon employees and retirees, resulting in an additional $26.1 million in combined contributions to nonprofits.  Through Verizon Volunteers, one of the nation's largest employee volunteer programs, Verizon employees and retirees have volunteered more than 5 million hours of community service since 2000. For more information on the foundation, visit www.verizonfoundation.org.

About the Alameda County Family Justice Center

The Alameda County Family Justice Center (ACFJC) and its partner organizations provide a gateway to safety, healing, and self-reliance for victims of domestic violence. The ACFJC serves as the heart of a comprehensive service delivery system that is inclusive and multi-cultural. Together, ACFJC partners deliver coordinated services that are easily accessible through one location. They advocate for and construct a future where there is zero tolerance for domestic violence in Alameda County.

About Verizon

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving more than 91 million customers nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers innovative, seamless business solutions to customers around the world.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of approximately 222,900 and last year generated consolidated revenues of more than $107 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.  

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SOURCE Verizon