By Anne Weber, MCFRC

Thursday, May 2, 10-11 a.m. an open meeting to explain the legal help that is available to families in need will be held at the Mountain Communities Family Resource Center (MCFRC) in Frazier Park. These groups will be there.

Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance, Inc.

Paralegal Michelle Hill will explain on May 2 the free legal services provided to low-income residents of Kern County in civil matters.

“We especially serve seniors and families with young children. Housing and homelessness, domestic violence, children and family services, guardianship, health law and consumer law are specialties,” Hill said.

Access to health care, safe housing, education and food are the priorities. GBLA seeks to avoid homelessness, reduce domestic violence—including protecting children from further exposure to domestic violence.

They seek stable care for children and to ensure that the elderly live with dignity and respect free from abuse and neglect.

Michelle Hill can meet with you at the Mountain Communities Family Resource Center (MCFRC) on the first and third Thursdays of the month, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (with an hour off for lunch 12-1 p.m.).

Her priority is to assist families with children ages 0-5 with domestic violence issues. This program is provided by First 5 Kern and funded through Proposition 10.

The Kern County Law Library

Annette Heath, librarian for the Kern County Law Library, will be presenting information and answering questions on May 2 at the legal services meeting.

The library staff provides the legal community and residents of Kern County with access to legal information services. They provide legal materials so everyone may have equal access to justice. Photocopies, word processing, online services, and internet access is available for legal-related issues.

Events and workshops are held daily on issues such as Guardianship, How to Probate a Small Estate, Bankruptcy and Divorce Default Clinic. The law library is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday–Friday and is closed on all court holidays. It is located at 1415 Truxtun Ave., Rm. 301 in Bakersfield (661-868-5320).

The Office of the Family Law Facilitator

Teresa Gary is a family law facilitator who will also present information and answer your questions on May 2.

The Family Law Facilitator provides assistance in family law cases to those who cannot afford to pay for an attorney.

The facilitators provide information and sample packets with the forms needed to meet the needs. They also make referrals for unrepresented parties in family law cases, to help you find a lawyer. Samples packets for family law issues have been prepared by the facilitators through a grant from the Judicial Council of California. Packets will be available at the community meeting.

They are also available at www.kern.courts.ca.gov by selecting the “Family Law” tab. The office is located in the Metropolitan Division of the Justice Building at 1215 Truxtun Avenue, first floor (661-868-4815), Mon – Fri., 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., closed on all holidays.

No appointments are available. Clients are seen by drop-in only at the Bakersfield office and in other rural areas of Kern County. There are no local services available from the OFLF, but they will provide helpful handouts at the meeting.

The meeting will be held at 3015 Mount Pinos Way, Suite 102, in Frazier Park. For additional information, contact staff at the MCFRC at 245-4303.