Alton women get grant for waiting room

The Junior League of Greater Alton has been awarded a $2,500 grant by the ISBA Young Lawyers Division toward establishment of a supervised children’s waiting area in the Madison County Courthouse.

The installation would insulate children of young mothers who seek orders of protection in the Victims Compensation and Assistance Act (VOCA) room, which is staffed by Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation.

The parent who applies for a protective order must explain in detail the circumstances and events that precipitated the need.

In order to minimize the exposure of children to discussions of violent incidents, the Junior League plans to fund a secure space where youngsters can read books, play with toys and video games, and watch television.

The child-friendly area of the VOCA room will be separated from the work area by a partition. Mothers will be able to converse freely with assigned personnel, knowing their children are nearby and safe.

The YLD grant is derived from proceeds of various events and projects that benefit the Children’s Assistance Fund, which is administered by the Illinois Bar Foundation.

The Junior League of Greater Alton is a volunteer organization of women who identify community needs and develop effective responses to them. Recent initiatives include a bicycle safety program and an Early Childhood Lending Library.

For more information about the Madison County project, contact Erin Phillips at (618) 258-1800 or Erin.Phillips7@gmail.com.