The Illinois Bar Foundation has presented a grant of $12,000 to the Chicago Metropolitan Battered Women's Network in support of its new Domestic Violence Court Policy and Advocacy Project.

The foundation funds will cover part of the salary of a part-time policy advocate/coordinator to serve as project liaison with the domestic violence system.

One goal of the project is to increase the safety of domestic violence victims by removing guns from their abusers when orders of protection have been issued or are pending.

Judges and police lack specific procedures to execute confiscation of guns in such situations. The project will develop appropriate procedural recommendations.

This effort involves collaboration with a Cook County state's attorney's task force, Chicago police, the Illinois Family Violence Coordinating Council, the Hull House Court Advocacy Project and the Family Rescue Court Advocacy Project.

Activities include domestic violence training collaborations with court personnel, court advocate training on judicial processes, and meetings and communications on barriers to safety and justice for victims.

The Battered Women's Network also operates a City of Chicago Domestic Violence Help Line, a Centralized Training Institute, and other public policy and advocacy initiatives.

Founded in 1980, the network consists of a coalition of more than 160 service providers throughout Cook County. It addresses the needs of battered women, their children and service providers in a struggle to abolish systemic and institutional injustices.

The board of directors of the Battered Women's Network includes representatives of participating organizations. Supreme Court law clerk Michele M. Jochner, a member of the ISBA Board of Governors, is board secretary.

For more information, contact executive director Vickii Coffey at (312) 750-0730. A domestic violence survivor, Coffey is former executive director of the Chicago Abused Women Coalition and a recipient of many national appointments and awards for advocacy.