Mission

The Family Justice Center of St. Joseph County is an innovative collaboration of civil, legal, medical, and social services whose expertise provides victims of domestic violence and their families multiple options to restore balance to their lives.

Purpose

The goal of the Family Justice Center is to bring together resources for victims of domestic violence and their children to one location, thereby improving access to those services already provided by the community.

The Family Justice Center serves as a one-stop help center for victims of domestic violence and their children. The FJC is made up of local non-profit and governmental agencies partnered together to help victims and their families quickly and confidentially seek information, and easily access resources to help them escape the cycle of violence. By having all of these services in one building, victims of domestic violence and their families can more easily receive the help they need. Before the FJC opened, the average individual trying to escape an abusive household had to seek assistance from 20 different locations. The FJC makes a victim's search for help and justice less burdensome.

History

The FJC received its start from a program, created under the administration of President George W. Bush, known as the Family Justice Center Initiative. This initiative began in October of 2003, as a program to start up and aid 15 different centers to serve victims of domestic violence throughout the country. In 2004, the Office of Violence Against Women identified St. Joseph County as the last of these 15 pilot sites nationwide, out of 400 applicants, to receive financial support from the federal government. The St. Joseph County Center officially opened its doors to the public on February 22, 2007 and since then has been helping to eradicate all forms of domestic violence

The Family Justice Center Services

Civil and legal services
Information regarding orders of protection
Crisis intervention
Forensic medical unit (coming soon)
Counseling for children, adolescents and adults
Substance abuse assessments
Supervised play room for children
Criminal investigations
Culturally and linguistically appropriate services
Employment and training assistance
Domestic violence advocacy
Spiritual care services
Prenatal counseling