OLH Receives Grant for Virtual Self-Help Center in Montgomery Co.
Ohio Legal Help has been awarded a generous grant from the Dayton Legal Heritage Foundation of The Dayton Foundation to develop a new Virtual Self-Help Center in partnership with the Montgomery County Juvenile Court.
The new Juvenile Court Virtual Self-Help Center (VSHC) will provide families and community members with clear, plain-language legal information, court forms, and connections to local services on juvenile court matters.
The VSHC will deliver a mobile-first platform, accessible online and integrated with new in-person e-filing kiosks, that empowers users to complete and submit court forms through a simple, guided experience. With a demonstrated ability to reduce errors, streamline compliance review, and eliminate barriers like transportation, childcare, and digital access, the platform will transform how families engage with the Court.
The initiative builds on Ohio Legal Help’s successful model of Virtual Self-Help Centers across Ohio, which use technology to reduce barriers to the justice system and ensure that all Ohioans can find the help they need, when they need it.
This project was funded by a grant from the Dayton Legal Heritage Foundation of The Dayton Foundation.
About the Dayton Legal Heritage Foundation and The Dayton Foundation
The Dayton Legal Heritage Foundation is the successor organization to The Dayton Law Library Association, which was formed in 1868 by Dayton attorneys for the purpose of acquiring and maintaining a law library for the betterment of the legal profession in Dayton, Ohio.
State legislation in 2010 converted the law library associations to county agencies, yet the private assets of the association remained under the oversight of its trustees. They formed The Dayton Legal Heritage Foundation for the purpose of awarding grants and donations to support programs and initiatives that improve the practice of law and elevate the awareness of the legal and justice systems.
Since 2016, the assets of the Foundation have been secured as a donor-advised fund of The Dayton Foundation, with the Trustees of the Dayton Legal Heritage Foundation serving as advisors.
The Dayton Foundation has been the trusted charitable giving resource for thousands of individuals, families and organizations since 1921. Ranked among the oldest and largest community foundations in the nation, the Foundation has awarded more than $1.4 billion in grants since its founding, with current assets from all funds exceeding $1.17 billion. For more information about The Dayton Foundation, visit daytonfoundation.org or follow the Foundation on Facebook, X or LinkedIn.