Carson City November 02, 2021
The Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) has announced that Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada has been designated as the first Statewide Victim Assistance Center under Assembly Bill (AB) 481 of the 2021 Nevada Legislative Session. This designation is in effect from Oct. 1, 2021, through Sept. 30, 2026. Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada is located in Clark County and has experience assisting victims across the state and country through the Vegas Strong Resiliency Center established after Oct. 1, 2017.
“The designation of a Statewide Victim Assistance Center marks another important step forward in developing a comprehensive victim services system in Nevada,” said Division of Child and Family Services Administrator Ross Armstrong. “We are proud to partner with the Legal Aid Center and offer our thanks for their unwavering commitment to Nevadans.”
Assembly Bill 481 allows for the Statewide Victim Assistance Center to:
• Provide support services to victims;
• Assist DCFS with expanding available services;
• Provide training and technical assistance to communities statewide to ensure they are equipped to provide victim support services
“For many victims of crime, there are no centralized victim-services, leading victims to navigate the system alone,” said Barbara Buckley, Executive Director of Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada. “Our office looks forward to expanding the work of the Vegas Strong Resiliency Center by helping more victims with trauma-informed services such as system navigation, assistance with Victims of Crime funding, legal aid, and help with behavioral health resources. It’s an honor to be involved in the first statewide victim assistance center.”
Assembly Bill 481 also makes it possible for the program to accept donations. Tax-deductible donations to aid the Victims Assistance Center can be made directly to Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada and the Division of Child and Family Services.
Donations to Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada can be made by mail or online. Checks must have a notation in the memo line that the donation is for the Statewide Victim Assistance Center and can be sent to:
Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada
725 E. Charleston Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89104
Or online at https://www.lacsn.org/donate. Online donations must include a note in the comment box that the donation is for the Statewide Victim Assistance Center.
Donations to DCFS can be made by mail payable to the Victims Support Gift Fund and sent to:
Division of Child and Family Services
Victims Support Gift Account
4126 Technology Way, 3rd Floor
Carson City, NV 89706
For more information contact Venicia Considine, Esq., Director of Development and Community Relations at Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada – (702) 386-1070, ext. 1442.