INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – The Indiana Supreme Court has awarded $243,000 in grant money to 19 counties in support of local family court projects.

The Supreme Court has distributed nearly $3.5 million since the Family Court Project began in 1999. The grants are considered “seed money,” and pilot counties are expected to transition to local funding within a reasonable time.

The grants are designed to create innovative programs that improve the court process for families. 

The largest grant of $35,000 went to Allen County Judge Charles Pratt, while Marion County Judge Cynthia Ayers received a $30,000 grant. 

Priority was given to applications that emphasized four areas:  improving access to the courts for families without attorneys, alternative dispute resolution, court-related services, and promoting academic research into court practices and services.