News Release
Media Contact
Terry Birdwell - Manager, Corporate Communications
800-888-4184 ext. 271
515-237-0271
Media@ARAGgroup.com
ARAG® Joins Forces with Children & Families of Iowa to Provide Family Violence Center Residents with Legal & Financial Resources
Des Moines, Iowa – ARAG is teaming up with Children & Families of Iowa to make legal and financial services available to residents of the Family Violence Center (FVC). The FVC provides safe shelter, advocacy and outreach for over 7,000 victims each year.“The ARAG Cares Legal and Financial Services Program offers Family Violence Center residents telephone access to an ARAG Network Attorney and Certified Financial Planner for legal and financial services,” said Cameron Sutton, President and Chief Executive Officer, ARAG. “The new program provides counseling on a variety of personal legal and financial matters that could affect the center’s residents during a difficult time in their lives. All program services are offered at no cost and residents may call as often as necessary while at the center.”
Citing statistics from the Iowa Department of Justice Attorney General’s Office, Sandra Smith, FVC Program Supervisor, said that as many as 23,000 victims of domestic violence were served in Iowa last year. “The Family Violence Center, which is the largest domestic violence project in the state and one of the largest in the country, offers services and resources to address this critical need,” Smith said. “In addition to serving several thousand domestic violence victims every year, the FVC also works with local schools, community groups and businesses to create a community that understands the issues of domestic violence and how these issues affect all strata of our society.”
Smith stated, “The Family Violence Center could not work as effectively to serve those in need without the wonderful support of companies such as ARAG. Through the ARAG Cares program, battered women who are served by the Family Violence Center will be able to address their future and their family’s security. Through the ARAG Care program’s legal hotline and educational resources, some measure of peace can be brought to the lives of these victims. Domestic violence impacts all communities in this world. ARAG is helping domestic violence victims in the Des Moines community take control of their lives – lives shattered by family violence.”
“Since 1973, ARAG has built a solid reputation as a leader in our industry and community,” noted Sutton. “We developed the ARAG Cares program to give back to our community and to support worthwhile efforts like those of Children & Families of Iowa and the Family Violence Center.”
