ICADV News

 

Click here to read the full Iowa Supreme Court decision in the State v. Ross Ian Cashen

The decision has tremendous public policy and public safety implications.  When victims learn that their mental health records will be obtained and used against them they will be unlikely to report or cooperate with the prosecution.  This will result in dangerous offenders not being held accountable or contained when necessary, which will have huge public safety implications for all of us.    This case involves a battered woman but the case law will be used in other types of cases and against other types of victims.  It is definitely a step backwards for victim rights, privacy rights and public safety.  To quote the only dissenting opinion from Justice Mark Cady, “The law should be able to do better." 

 

Firearms Ban for those Convicted of Domestic Violence takes effect July 1, 2010

Click here to learn more.

 

The Iowa Initiatve Aims to Reduce Unintended Pregnancies

Headed by Christie Vilsack, the Iowa Initiative aims to reduce the high rate of unintended pregnancies among Iowa women ages 18-30 through networking, research, and public outreach.  www.iowainitiative.org has information on family planning and contraception, and a search feature to find family planning clinics in your area.  Also available in Espanol.

LARC Opportunity Offered by the Iowa Initiative

Long-Acting, Reversible Contraceptives (LARC) can now be obtained by any woman in Iowa at low or no cost at more than 80 family planning clinics throughout Iowa.  Several types of long-acting, reversible contraceptives are available and can prevent an unintended pregnancy.  These methods are more than 99 percent effective in preventing pregnancy for between 3 and 10 years and can be removed to allow fertility to return at any time.

Women who obtain LARC at any of the Iowa Initiative clinics can continue to see their regular physician.  Individuals should feel free to contact their local family planning clinic to learn more about the long-term reversible contraception options that are now available to at low or no cost.  A complete listing of family planning clinics where women can access low or no cost LARC services can be found at www.iowainitiative.org.

 

 

ICADV Donors Gave Nine Iowa Families a Great Christmas

This year, ICADV received some amazing donations for families who needed gifts to make their Christmas special this year.  We were able to give people necessities, such as warm coats and clothes, a bike for transportation, and computers for school work, as well as fun stuff, like stuffed animals, purses, and games.  All of our donors are amazing, and we want to give them a huge thank you.  Your generosity was a real blessing to these families this holiday season.

 

ICADV Supporters Came Through!

Less than two weeks ago we contacted our supporters with an immediate need.  Suzzie , a client in our legal clinic, was near the completion of her immigration case.  There was just one problem.  Even though she and her oldest child are legally working, they had not been able to save the $3000 needed to complete medical exams for the family of six.  Today thanks to your donations “Suzzie” and her children will complete the medical exams required by immigration and will be one step closer to receiving their Legal Permanent Residency!  Thank you for your amazing generosity.  Learn more below.

Suzzie's Story

Here at ICADV we are very proud of our immigration clinic.  Our staff serves hundreds of clients every year.  Our clients come from around the world and from all walks of life.  But, they share one thing.  They are all victims of domestic violence at the hands of an American citizen.  When that citizen is the legal spouse of the victim the Violence Against Women Act has created a remedy called the “self-petition.”  This means that the abused immigrant does not have to rely on the abusive spouse for legal documentation.  She can file on her own.  Completing a successful self-petition is a complicated process requiring the petitioner to prove many things and meet many requirements.  One of these requirements is to undergo medical examinations. 

Our clinic has been working with a woman we will call Suzzie for many months.  Suzzie met a man in her home country, The Philippines.  He brought her and her five children to the United States and the couple were married.  Shortly after, he violently assaulted both Suzzie and the children, multiple times.  She sought help and is on her way to legal permanent residency in the United States.  She has filled out all the forms and paid all the fees.  She has now reached the point in the process when she and each of her children must undergo their medical examinations.  She and her oldest child received work authorization and are doing their best to provide for the family of six.  However, there is very little money to spare and the cost of the exams for six people comes to $3,000.  Without the exams the case will be denied and the family will be deported.

As explained above, in less than two weeks, our supporters came through and donated the money for the exams.  Because of your compassion this hardworking family will be able to complete their self-petitions and are one step closer to becoming Legal Permanent Residents. 

Thank you so much for your support!

 

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