QUINCY — For the first time in nearly four decades, a new office will be available to help victims of domestic violence in and around Quincy.
“I’m not sure people realize exactly how much of an impact this is going to have,” said Quanada CEO Megan Duesterhaus. “We have people come to us and after we’ve helped as much as possible, their next step would be to get a lawyer, and they often can’t.”
Quanada has partnered with Ascend Justice and Land of Lincoln Legal Aid to open a legal services office in Quincy. The office will have two full-time attorneys working for the Land of Lincoln to assist with legal issues related to domestic violence cases. The help offered will range from civil protection orders and family law to residency issues that may arise.
“Beyond simply expanding our services to legal representation, the real strength of this partnership is that it will allow us to provide services holistically by addressing all the legal challenges faced by survivors, rather than focusing only on protective orders and family law,” he said. is the Duesterhaus.
The new office will not accept direct customers. Instead, those seeking help for problems based on domestic violence situations will work through Quanada, which can then refer qualified applicants to the Lincoln County Legal Aid office for additional assistance.
The Quincy office will be on Broadway between Ninth and Tenth streets, near the United Way of Adams district office. Land of Lincoln is currently filling office positions including caseworkers, legal secretary and paralegals. Along with two attorneys, Quincy legal professionals are invited to apply or volunteer to help.
Chicago-based Ascend Justice will provide remote legal services on other matters, including family defense, immigration and economic justice.
Margaret Duval, executive director of Ascend Justice, said domestic violence survivors across the state should have access to the same services as residents of larger cities.
“(They) deserve a full range of legal resources whether they live in metropolitan or rural areas. We hope the remote legal services model proves effective so it can be replicated in other areas across Illinois,” Duval said.
Land of Lincoln Executive Director Clarissa Gaff said the organization is eager to begin offering services Quincy has lacked for the past 37 years.
“We are thrilled with this opportunity to reopen to provide free civil legal assistance to victims of domestic violence,” Gaff said.
The Legal Aid Office is funded by a grant awarded to Quanada by the Illinois Department of Human Services. As a grantee, Quanada partnered with Land of Lincoln Legal Aid and Ascend Justice to open this office.
Duesterhaus said that aside from helping with emergency orders, Quanada is limited in the legal assistance it can offer victims of domestic violence.
“This gives us a new opportunity to get the necessary help to those who come to us,” she said.
For more information or for those interested in applying for positions, visit lincolnlegal.org.
