Fort Bend County is now accepting applications for the Family Protection Fee Grant. The grant is open to Fort Bend area nonprofits that implement comprehensive domestic violence services, support family violence prevention, and help survivors of domestic violence and their children.

The amount of funding available for the fiscal year 2023 is $9,559.65. Last year, over $40,000 was awarded to four Fort Bend area service providers: AVDA, Child Advocates, Family Life Center, and FBC Women’s Center.

The Grant funds are made possible by the family protection fee that the Fort Bend District Clerk’s office collects when someone files a suit for the dissolution of a marriage under Chapter 6, Family Code.

“With the help of our nonprofits, victims of domestic violence and their children can seek safety and get the support and assistance they need through our nonprofit partners,” stated Fort Bend County Judge KP George. “The only way to end domestic abuse is to work together to rebuild the lives of survivors and their children, and the Family Protection Fee Grant will help support efforts to do so.”

Fort Bend County Commissioner’s Court adopted the $15.00 fee under Government Code, Title 2, which allows for the district clerk to provide funding to a nonprofit organization that provides services for family violence and child abuse prevention, intervention, mental health, counseling, and legal services including marriage preservation services to families that are at risk of experiencing or that have experienced family violence or the abuse or neglect of a child.

The fiscal year 2023 will see the end of the fee collection due to the passing of Senate Bill 41. The Bill consolidates civil court filing fees and establishes a streamlined system while remaining revenue neutral to the greatest extent possible.

The deadline to apply for the grant is January 31, 2023. For more information and to apply for the grant, please visit Family Protection Fee Grant | Fort Bend County, TX.