Category: News

“CONCORD — The Central County Family Justice Center, which will help victims report domestic violence, is scheduled to open next month in Salvio Pacheco Square. The City Council on Tuesday allocated $35,000 to fund the first six months of operations at the center and approved a three-year lease for 8,000 square feet of office space at 2151 Salvio St., across from Todos Santos Plaza. Rent for the space will be paid for from the center’s budget, not by the city. The downtown Concord center, the existing West Contra Costa Family Justice Center in Richmond and a third center planned for East County would be the first such countywide network in the country, according to Contra Costa County leaders. These centers bring together police, prosecutors, social service agencies and community organizations at a “one-stop shop” where victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and elder abuse can access resources to help them report abuse and leave a violent situation. Experts say the family justice model reduces homicides and increases safety and efficiency.” Read the full article here.  Download the pdf here.

“Grayson also thanked his council colleagues, City Attorney Mark Coon, City Manager Valerie Barone and Police Chief Guy Swanger for their support and hard work in shepherding the family justice center from concept to reality in just one year. The proposed Central County Family Justice Center, which will be located in downtown Concord, will help victims and their families navigate the often overwhelming and intimidating process of reporting domestic violence. “Family justice center is a much-needed facility, organization and a safe place for the victims of domestic violence — no matter what gender, no matter what age — and the victims of elder abuse,” Grayson said. “We’re looking forward to opening the doors very, very soon,” he added.” Read the full article at: http://www.contracostatimes.com/contra-costa-times/ci_27058949/concord-incumbents-sworn-tuesday-tim-grayson-remains-mayor

“For Richmond leaders joined Lt. Gov Gavin Newsom, Contra Costa Supervisor John Giola, Police Chief Chris Magnus and various community leaders and organizations Friday to celebrate the groundbreaking of the expanded West Contra Costa Family Justice Center (FJC) in Richmond. FJC is a multi-service center for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, elder abuse, and human trafficking and their families.” Read on! Click here: FJC News Article 11 6 13

Richmond Confidential By S. Parker Yesko Posted October 4, 2014 7:12 pm Domestic Violence Awareness Month has spurred local organizations to spotlight expanding resources for victims, witnesses, and even perpetrators. At a time when an NFL scandal has propelled the issue into the national spotlight, several agencies and nonprofits are making Richmond a priority for domestic violence intervention. Federal dollars awarded to Contra Costa County last week will help to fund the efforts. “We’re trying to spread the word that it’s not a private issue, it’s a community issue,” said Jon Myers, spokesman for the California Victim Compensation Program (CalVCP), a state agency that offers financial support to victims of crime. This month, CalVCP released free online resource packets including graphics, fliers, and ready-to-use tweets about domestic abuse. An ad campaign running throughout public transit in four high-crime Bay Area cities, including Richmond, reminds the public that recovery from domestic crime is costly and CalVCP can help pay. The graphic ads, which show bruised and battered victims, are designed to make an impression. “We’re showing the reality of crime,” Myers said. “The images that you see on the bus and the BART are a little darker than what we’ve done in the past.” CalVCP helps victims pay for medical bills, therapy, funeral costs and lost income. In cases of domestic violence, relief funds often help women and children relocate to safer living situations. In Contra Costa County, the agency dispensed $376,630 to 250 victims of domestic violence in the last fiscal year, Myers said. Funds come from restitution payments made by offenders. Domestic violence-related calls for assistance in Richmond were down to 397 in 2013 after reaching a 10-year high of 557 in 2012, well above the county per capita average, according to data from the state attorney general’s office. The West Contra Costa Family Justice Center (WCCFJC) is hoping to sustain the downward trend in Richmond. Normally once-per-month newsletters will be distributed weekly in October. The ramped up communications aims to educate readers on the interconnectedness of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, elder abuse and human trafficking. The center is a one-stop shop, temporarily at the Hilltop Mall, where victims can get help from medical professionals, crisis counselors, law enforcement and attorneys. WCCFJC has partnered with the Richmond Police Department, Bay Area Legal Aid, STAND! For Families Free of Violence, and Community Violence Solutions, a rape crisis center. “National stats say that your typical domestic violence survivor has to navigate through 30 different systems, different intake hours, different locations, and different eligibility requirements,” WCCFJC Executive Director Susun Kim said. “What we have at the center are navigators who sit down with the client and figure out her situation, her safety, and her needs.” WCCFJC will also work with Concord-based STAND!, and other community and county partners, to implement a domestic violence homicide reduction program over the next two years. A $650,000 U.S. Department of Justice grant awarded to the county last week will help train first responders in identifying domestic violence offenders that are most likely to kill their victims. Once potentially fatal situations are identified, STAND! will provide intervention services for all members of affected families, including children and perpetrators. STAND! will also host public events this month and expand a program that promotes gender respect in Richmond public schools. “Being a man doesn’t mean using violence and abusive or belittling behavior,” said Rebekah Truemper, STAND!’s director of Development and Marketing. “It’s about caring and compassion and being nurturing. That’s actually more manly.”  Read this Article from the Richmond Confidential

“A new much larger Family Justice Center is set to open in Richmond next year, and the county is working to create a Family Justice Center network with additional centers in Concord and east Contra Costa County.” Read on! Click here: FJC News Article 9 25 14

“The proposed Central County Family Justice Center aims to help victims adn their families navigate the often overwhelming and intimidating process of reporting domestic violence. The proposed downtown Concord center, the existing West Contra Costa Family Justice Center in Richmond and a third center planned for East County would be the first countywide network in the country, according to Contra Costa County leaders.” Read on! Click here: FJC News Article 9 14 14

Save the Date! Innovations Conference: Innovations and Best Practices in Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Response Date: Wednesday November 5, 2014 Time: 8:30am-4:00pm Location: Pleasant Hill, CA The Family Justice Center and Contra Costa County’s Zero Tolerance for Domestic Violence Initiative are pleased to announce a one-day conference focusing on the innovations and best practices in Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Response in Contra Costa and the surrounding East Bay Area. Speakers will highlight emerging research, innovations, and best and promising practices around trauma-informed approaches, culturally specific services, and the Family Justice Center model. Attendees can expect: Information about new approaches and resources. Tips on policies and practices to improve your work. Who should attend? Staff from City and County departments who partner with the Family Justice Center City staff Law enforcement Non-profit service providers Community Leaders CEUs pending. Plenary Session Dr. Jeffery Edleson, Ph.D., MSW Dean, School of Social Work, UC Berkeley Dr. Brigid McCaw, MD, MPH Kaiser Permenante, Family Violence Prevention Program Dr. Mimi Kim, Ph.D. Founder, Creative Interventions Professor, Social Welfare, Cal State Long Beach Breakout Panelists include Cherri Allison, Esq. Executive Director, Alameda County Family Justice Center Ben Barr, MSW, Ph.D. Executive Director, Rainbow Community Center Kathryn Burroughs Consultant and Trainer,  Families Thrive, Contra Costa County’s Zero Tolerance for Domestic Violence Initiative Kanwarpal Dhaliwal, MPH Director of Community Health and Integrative Practice, RYSE Center Tim Grayson Mayor, City of Concord Chris Magnus Chief, Richmond Police Department Wade Myer, MDiv Director of Programs, Rainbow Community Center  Usha Ramachandran Executive Director, Narika   And More!       The project is supported by Kaiser Permanente Northern California Community Benefit Programs.  Conference registration will be announced in September.  For questions or comments, please contact Melissa Caine-Huckabay at (510) 965-4949 or mcainehuckabay@wccfjc.org

In a recent article,  Huffington Post contributor Melissa Jeltsen talks about a recent study from Rutgers University that examines the impact of financial abuse on domestic violence survivors. The article explores the emerging understanding that financial literacy should not be viewed as a luxury or secondary service but a key part of a survivor’s long-term safety and healing. “Kim Pentico, the senior economic justice specialist at National Network To End Domestic Violence who trains advocates, said perceptions on financial programs for survivors are beginning to change. In the past, Pentico said, offering financial education was seen as “icing on the cake,” a nice service when there was extra time and funding. But now, it’s being recognized as a core service.” The article highlights the experiences of several survivors and is very similar to the stories shared by our most recent WINGS participants. The only program of its kind currently operating in Contra Costa County, Women INspired to Grow and Succeed (WINGS), was designed to increase self-sufficiency and leadership skills of survivors of interpersonal violence.  WINGS is built upon a promising practices model based on the Allstate Foundations’ Career and Financial Empowerment curriculum and supplemental materials designed specifically to meet the needs of Contra Costa residents. The goal of WINGS is to empower and educate survivors of family and sexual violence so that they are able to set and achieve personal and professional goals. Topics include financial literacy, educational goals, career sustainability, goal setting, resume and interview skills, entrepreneurial skills, and stress management. These skill-building topics will be mixed with emotional support discussions and activities; it is critical that participants feel empowered to make positive changes in their lives. Read the full article here. To learn more about WINGS, contact Elizabeth Wilmerding at (510) 965-4933 or ewilmerding@wccfjc.org

Safety and Healing of Abuse Victims Supported by Kaiser Permanente July 8, 201 For Immediate Release Press Contact 510-985-4949 Susun Kim, skim@wccfjc.org   Richmond, CA — West Contra Costa residents experiencing family violence or sexual assault are one step closer to having a warm and welcoming one-stop service center.  The building of a permanent home for the Family Justice Center in Richmond, CA has become a reality, thanks to a new $600,000 grant from Kaiser Permanente. “Kaiser Permanente’s partnership with our Center has been invaluable.  Our Center’s resilience based approach to interpersonal violence and promoting healthy relationships is in line with their commitment to building healthy communities,” said Family Justice Center Executive Director Susun Kim. The Family Justice Center brings multiple agencies together under one roof to coordinate wrap-around service delivery for victims of violence, their families, children, and youth in West Contra Costa County. Once complete, its 7,000-square foot permanent facility in Richmond, CA, will have close to 20 on-site partner agencies providing crisis response, safety planning, emergency shelter assistance, advocacy, peer support, mental health services, law enforcement assistance, civil legal help, and more. “Violence has far-reaching consequences that go beyond direct physical injury to individuals—it impacts the overall health and vitality of our communities,” said Yvette Radford, Kaiser Permanente’s Vice President of External and Community Affairs in Northern California. “As a health care organization committed to total health, we believe that by supporting the Family Justice Center in bringing together a range of comprehensive services for violence survivors, we can help make our communities healthier and safer.” While the Center has enjoyed the support from many funders, including Y&H Soda Foundation and the California Endowment, Kaiser Permanente’s grant represents the largest one since the Center opened at its temporary pilot site in 2011.  This grant will help build the permanent home that will bring safety, healing and hope for many survivors and their families. For more information about the Family Justice Center, please visit www.wccfjc.org.