After Awareness
From A Legal Maze To Actionable Strategy
As a non-profit, we unify legal, emotional, and financial resources to assist individuals and professionals in successfully navigating their judicial maze.
Our Promise
We promise to equip you with the tools and vetted resources you need,
so you never have to face the system alone.
WHO WE ARE
About After Awareness
After Awareness, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness about legal abuse, supporting survivors, and driving systemic change through education, community, and strategic partnerships.
Our Board
Karen Tosoni
President / Co-Founder
Cynthya Pagán Hale
Vice President
Kris Ryne
Treasurer
Jennifer Ruiz-Santiago
Secretary
Tara Mowan
Co-Founder
Andrew Grosso
Board Member
Our Partners
After Awareness has established Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with select organizations that share our commitment to supporting legal abuse survivors and driving systemic change.
LEGAL ADVOCACY
Partner Organization
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MENTAL HEALTH
Partner Organization
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COMMUNITY SERVICES
Partner Organization
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YOUR JOUTNEY WITH US
The L.E.A.F Pathway
The L.E.A.F. Pathway guides survivors step by step — from first discovering what legal abuse is, through assessment and community, to scholarship opportunities that open new doors.
SERVICE ONE
Awareness
Awareness is the foundation of everything we do. Legal abuse is widely misunderstood — even by those experiencing it. Through our blog, podcast, events, storytelling program, and L.E.A.F. Kits, we equip survivors, families, professionals, and communities with the knowledge to recognize, name, and respond to legal abuse.
- Legal Abuse Chronicles Blog
- Annual Awareness Day & Eventsv
- L.E.A.F. Kits Program
- Legal Abuse Explained Podcast
- Storytelling & Research Surveys
- Community Education Campaigns
SERVICE TWO
The L.E.A.F Community
The L.E.A.F. Community is a vetted, peer-to-peer sanctuary for survivors navigating the complexities of legal abuse. We provide a safe online environment where survivors find workshops, reading materials, videos, scholarship opportunities, and evergreen resources — growing alongside our community as we build together.
- Vetted Peer-to-Peer Network
- Scholarship Opportunities
- Evergreen Resource Library
- Workshops & Appointments
- Reading Materials & Videos
- Safe, Moderated Environment
SERVICE THREE
Partnership & Advocasy
We partner with legal, emotional, and financial experts to go beyond awareness — creating vetted resources for survivors, influencing education and law reform, and driving collective systemic change. Our partnerships are built on shared purpose: ensuring that survivors have access to expert-backed tools and that the systems around them begin to change.
- Expert Partnerships (Legal, Emotional, Financial)
- Vetted Resource Co-Creation
- MOU Partner Network
- Policy & Law Reform Advocacy
- Education & Academic Research
- Collective Systemic Change
WHAT WE DO
Three Pillars of Our Mission
PILLAR ONE
Awareness.
We raise awareness about legal abuse through storytelling, education, research, and media — so survivors, families, and communities can recognize and name what is happening to them.
- Legal Abuse Chronicles Blog
- Legal Abuse Explained Podcast
- Annual Awareness Day & Events
- L.E.A.F. Kits Program
PILLAR TWO
The L.E.A.F Community
A vetted peer-to-peer sanctuary providing workshops and resources for those navigating the complexities of legal abuse — a safe online place where survivors find support and grow.
- Workshops & Appointments
- Scholarship Opportunities
- Reading Materials & Videos
- Vetted Peer Support Network
PILLAR THREE
Partnership & Advocasy
We partner with legal, emotional, and financial experts to create vetted resources, influence education and law reform, and drive systemic change — collectively and with purpose.
- Expert Partnerships
- Policy & Law Reform
- Vetted Resource Creation
- Education & Research
Awareness
Awareness is the first step to change. We use storytelling, media, and research to shine a light on legal abuse and empower survivors to speak their truth.
Legal Abuse Chronicles
Our blog exploring the realities of legal abuse — survivor stories, expert insights, research findings, and practical guidance for those navigating the system.
Legal Abuse Explained
Deep conversations with survivors, attorneys, therapists, and advocates — breaking down legal abuse in plain language for everyone who needs to understand it.
sub-program
L.E.A.F Kits Program
County-based resource kits distributed to courts, police departments, counselors, and organizations that assist legal abuse survivors — because no one should walk into a courthouse and find nothing.
Share Your Story
Your experience matters. Participate in our storytelling program and research surveys — open to anyone — to help build the statistics that drive real change.
LEGAL ABUSE CHRONICLES
Latest from the Blog
L.E.A.F. Kits Program
A county-based initiative placing legal abuse resource kits directly in the hands of those who serve survivors — courts, police departments, counselors, and community organizations.
THE STORY BEHIND THE KITS
“Imagine walking into a courthouse at one of the most vulnerable moments of your life — facing legal abuse, overwhelmed, and alone. You look around for resources, for guidance, for anything that says you are not invisible here. There is nothing. The only pamphlets on the wall are for domestic violence services. Legal abuse survivors are left to navigate a system designed to defeat them, with zero support in the very building where their fate is being decided. That is unacceptable.”
What Is a L.E.A.F. Kit?
Each kit is a curated collection of vetted, plain-language resources about legal abuse — what it is, how to recognize it, and where to turn for help. Kits are tailored for the specific setting in which they are placed, ensuring relevance for the professionals and survivors who receive them.
- Awareness guides & fact sheets
- Survivor resource directories
- After Awareness program information
- QR codes linking to digital support
- Referral cards for L.E.A.F. Community
Who Receives the Kits?
L.E.A.F. Kits are distributed county by county to the frontline professionals and institutions that interact with legal abuse survivors every day:
- Courthouses & family court clerks
- Local police departments & sheriff offices
- Licensed counselors & therapists
- Non-profit organizations & shelters
- Social workers & victim advocates
- Schools & community centers
Does Your County Have a L.E.A.F. Kit?
We are actively working to secure grant funding to place L.E.A.F. Kits in every county across the country. The kits are free to the organizations that receive them — funded entirely through grants and donations.
If your local courthouse, police department, or non-profit does not yet have a L.E.A.F. Kit, you can help change that — by getting involved, nominating your county, or donating to fund kits for your community.
Nominate Your County
Tell us your county needs a L.E.A.F. Kit. We will add it to our distribution list and notify you when kits are available in your area.
Donate to Fund Kits
Your donation directly funds the production and distribution of L.E.A.F. Kits for local police departments, courthouses, and non-profits in underserved counties. Donate Now
Partner as an Organization
If you represent a courthouse, police department, counseling center, or non-profit, contact us to request kits for your organization or to partner in distribution.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Upcoming Events
From our annual awareness day to community workshops and advocacy panels — join us in person or online.
PILLAR TWO
The L.E.A.F. Community
A vetted peer-to-peer sanctuary providing workshops and resources for those navigating the complexities of legal abuse. This is an online place where survivors can find real support, grow, and heal — together.
The L.E.A.F. Community is built on the belief that no survivor should navigate legal abuse alone. Through vetting, we maintain a safe, trusted space where members can be vulnerable, share resources, and support one another on the journey toward legal, financial, and emotional recovery.
- Workshops & Appointments
- Reading Materials & Videos
- Evergreen Resources
- Scholarship Opportunities
- Vetted Peer Network
- Expert Connections
PILLAR THREE
Partnership & Advocacy
Awareness alone is not enough. We partner with legal professionals, mental health experts, financial advisors, academic institutions, and advocacy organizations to create vetted resources and drive systemic change.
Through collective action, we work to reform education, influence laws, and build advanced resources that go beyond simple awareness — creating lasting change for survivors and communities affected by legal abuse.
Expert Resource Creation
Partnering with vetted professionals to build trusted, actionable resources for survivors.
Education Initiatives
Bringing legal abuse awareness into academic, professional, and community settings.
Expert Resource Creation
Partnering with vetted professionals to build trusted, actionable resources for survivors.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Frequently Asked Questions
Have a question not answered here? Reach out to us at info@afterawareness.org
What is legal abuse?
Legal abuse is when an individual uses or threatens to use a legal system to cause harm. This includes filing frivolous lawsuits, using custody proceedings as leverage, prolonging litigation to drain financial resources, and other tactics that weaponize the legal system against a vulnerable person.
How do I know if I am experiencing legal abuse?
Common signs include being taken to court repeatedly without legitimate cause, being threatened with legal action as a form of control, experiencing financial devastation due to forced legal proceedings, and feeling trapped in a cycle of litigation that serves no legitimate legal purpose.
What resources does After Awareness provide?
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How can I share my story?
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How can professionals or organizations partner with After Awareness?
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Is The L.E.A.F. Community free to join?
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“Awareness is the first step, but action is the victory. We provide the exact education and resources you need to map your way out of the legal maze and take back legal, emotional, and financial control of your life.”
— AFTER AWARENESS, INC. —
GET IN TOUCH
Contact Us
Phone
925-339-0021
info@afterawareness.org
Podcast
legalabuseexplained.com