Laurens County SAFE Home Receives $25,100 Grant to Expand Legal Help for Domestic Violence Survivors
June 24, 2026
Laurens County SAFE Home has received a 25,100.00 grant from the South Carolina Bar Foundation to support its Legal Advocacy program.
DawnMarie Ardelt , executive director of Laurens County SAFE Home, said the funds would be used to help victims of domestic violence access a legal Roadmap Model designed to expand justice for survivors. This model integrates trained victim advocates with enhanced legal knowledge who provide trauma informed legal education, rights-based counselling, and safety-focused legal planning. Advocates work in coordination with private contract attorneys and legal professionals to facilitatecivil legal consultations and direct legal services for survivors of domestic violence and stalking.
Through this approach, survivors receive clear information about their civil legal options, including orders of protection, custody and visitation, housing stability, and other remedies critical to long term-term safety and independence. The legal roadmap model reduces systemic barriers to civil justice, promotes informed decision making, and improves survivor safety by ensuring that legal strategies are aligned with individualized safety planning.
We have worked with the state Coalition (SCCADVASA) for years on developing this model. We know the benefits not only to our clients but to the community. We will be working with our partners around the state to share this model and the benefits we have seen when implementing it.
About the SC Bar Foundation
The South Carolina Bar Foundation promotes justice by funding legal access and education. Since 1971, the Bar Foundation has awarded more than $65 million to various law-related organizations throughout South Carolina. Today, the SC Bar Foundation is the only statewide funding source for civil legal aid and law-related education.
