From nola.com

By: Letters to the Editor, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune

Re: Budget cuts hit aid for victims of domestic violence, A-4, Jan. 4.

Days before Christmas, the state Department of Children and Family Services informed Crescent House that their contract had been cut by $76,000. That same day several families received services -- including a mom and her children who had been terrorized by their father with a loaded gun. These children were traumatized and scared, but after hours of care and quality services, they left with bicycles and toys from Santa and arrangements for immediate safety.

In Orleans Parish, Crescent House is the only agency providing lifesaving services to victims of domestic violence. This program provides a 24-hour, 365-days-a-year crisis line that often is the only linkage to safety for victims.

From neworleanssaints.com

Posted Dec 31, 2012
By: NewOrleansSaints.com

The New Orleans Saints announced their 2012 Community Quarterback Award Winners on Monday.

The Community Quarterback program recognizes outstanding volunteers in the Gulf South Region. Individuals exhibiting leadership, dedication and commitment to improving their community are candidates for the program.

Nominees had to be age 13 and over, providing volunteer services for non-profit organizations in their community are eligible.

Below are the winners

$10,000 Grant Recipient (1):

*Cecile Tebo – Exodus House

$2,500 Grant Recipients (2):

*Jennifer Taylor – N.O. Family Justice & Crescent House

*Michael Hackett – CASA

From theadvocate.com

Delgado honors outstanding alumni

New Orleans — The Delgado Circles of Excellence Outstanding Alumni recognition dinner honored the community contributions of Delgado graduates last month.

James Hines, president of the Harvey Canal Industrial Association and a Circles of Excellence Award winner in 2008, was the keynote speaker. Delgado Chancellor Monty Sullivan served as master of ceremonies.

2012 Delgado Circles of Excellence Award winners are: Pamela Albers Gretna, 1994, general studies, social worker with New Orleans Family Justice Center; Anna Marie Eastburn, Slidell, 2006, dietetics, performance dietitian with University of Pittsburgh at John C. Stennis Space Center; Joseph Scott Morgan, Dahlonega, Ga., 1991, criminal justice, assistant professor at North Georgia College and State University and author; Patrick M. Smith, Mandeville, 1999, criminal justice, community relations deputy with Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office; Pearlina Thomas, New Orleans, 2008, construction management and civil engineering, area manager with Louisiana Associated General Contractors; Joseph Webster, New Orleans, 2011, fire science technology, firefighter with New Orleans Fire Department, U.S. Army Reserve recruiter.

From nola.com

Judge Paul Sens, chief of Municipal Court, is getting rattled. Every day, he sees between 10 and 12 new domestic-violence cases in his courtroom, as part of a shift of cases from Criminal District Court. Sens says he has no staff to monitor the batterers who come before him. And history shows that if high-risk batterers go unsupervised, some will injure or even kill their victims.

"It's a crisis," Sens said. "If we don't get some services, the loss won't be counted in dollars. It will be in lives."

District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro, who ordered the transfer of all misdemeanor domestic-violence cases to Municipal Court a few months ago, believes Sens should simply sentence batterers to Criminal District Court's existing domestic-violence monitoring court, according to spokesman Chris Bowman.

Sens calls that solution unworkable, as does Magistrate Judge Gerard Hansen, who runs the monitoring court. The two judges say their courts' distinct jurisdictions and separate financial structures make such an arrangement impossible.