Good Neighbors by Faith Barnidge: Bonilla names Assembly district woman of year
Family Justice Center Celebrate “Hope for the Future: Healing Our Children,” at the Family Justice Center benefit from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 7, at the Pleasant Hill Community Center, 320 Civic Drive. Fine wine and appetizers will be served at a reception featuring a silent auction for prizes, followed by a short program and live auction. Tickets are $25. Call Natalie at 925-521-6366 or email natalie@cocofamilyjustice.org, or visit https://www.cocofamilyjustice.org for more information. The Family Justice Center is located across from Todos Santos Plaza, on the second floor of Salvio Pacheco Square, at 2151 Salvio St. in downtown Concord. It offers professional, comprehensive services in one location for people victimized by domestic violence, sexual assault, elder abuse, child abuse and human trafficking. Representatives from local government, social service, religious and nonprofit organizations are on site to offer counsel, referrals and resources. Partner organizations offering crisis management include Adult Protective Services, Bay Area Crisis Nursery, Legal Aid, Court Appointed Special Advocate for foster Children (CASA), Catholic Charities, Children and Family Services, STAND! For Families Free of Violence, Meals on Wheels, Monument Impact, Monument Crisis Center, Shelter, Inc. and many more. After a crisis situation has been addressed, the Family Justice Center offers ongoing support with health, education, training and community programs. The WINGS (Women Inspired to Grow and Succeed) program, offers continuing support to help survivors become independent and self-sufficient by setting goals for budgeting, career and stress management. Call 925-521-6366 for information about sessions from 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays, March 26, and April 2 and 9.
Richmond cop murdered in domestic violence incident honored at Family Justice Center
A respected Richmond police officer who was killed by a former boyfriend in 2006 will forever be a symbol of hope to domestic violence victims at the West County Family Justice Center. [Read more].
Contra Costa Family Justice Center Seeks Applicants for Community Fellowship Program
An innovative new fellowship program being launched by the Contra Costa Family Justice Center aims to equip victims of violence with the leadership skills to empower their long-term sustainability and success. The center is accepting applications by Feb. 10, for its 10 month, 10 hour-per-week Community Fellowship Program that will kick off in March 2016 at its West Center location in Richmond and Central Center location in Concord. [Read More] .
Richmond man forced woman to live in closet in Iron Triangle residence
A Richmond man forced a woman to live in a closet in an Iron Triangle home and abused her daily for about a year before his recent arrest, police said Tuesday. Detectives working out of the new West Contra Costa Family Justice Center recently received a voicemail from a Homeland Security agent about a woman who was being held against her will, police said. They were also notified by STAND! advocates. [See more]
Feds Recognize Alameda and Contra Costa Counties for Work Caring for Domestic Violence Victims
OAKLAND — In recognition of 20 years since the passage of the Violence Against Women Act, federal officials this week visited East Bay family justice centers to applaud efforts in Alameda and Contra Costa counties to protect women and children. Both East Bay counties are considered to be leaders nationwide in how they respond to and address domestic violence and other crimes against women at the local level. Both Alameda and Contra Costa counties use a “coordinated response” model, in which police, prosecutors and victim advocates all work together to address an individual victim’s needs. Read More.
Acting DA Singas Proposes One-Stop Shop for Victims of Domestic Violence
Mineola, NY – June 1, 2015 – Acting Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas has proposed and is working with regional and local governmental and non-governmental partners to create a comprehensive one-stop shop for domestic violence victims that would allow them to receive legal, health, financial and other services in one convenient location next to Nassau County courts, addressing many of the logistical issues that currently make it difficult for victims to get the help they need during domestic violence prosecutions. “Four New York City boroughs and Westchester County have Family Justice Centers to serve as comprehensive one-stop shops for domestic violence victims, and it’s time we provide Nassau County victims with these critical resources in the most efficient and effective way we can,” Acting DA Singas said. “No victim of a crime should have to miss out on the services they need because government failed to coordinate resources, and that’s why I’ve made the creation of Long Island’s first Family Justice Center a priority. I’m grateful to County Executive Edward Mangano for his support and commitment to this important project, and I look forward to working with our government and community partners to ensure its success.” Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano stated, “I declared Family and domestic violence are public health emergencies that threaten the lives of children and other family members. Since taking office, my administration has worked tirelessly to reduce violence in our communities. The creation of a comprehensive one-stop shop is critical for domestic violence victims to receive assistance and obtain other resources they need to get help.” [read more]
Feds Recognize Alameda and Contra Costa Counties for Work Caring for Domestic Violence Victims – The Mercury News
“In recognition of 20 years since the passage of the Violence Against Women Act, federal officials this week visited East Bay family justice centers to applaud efforts in Alameda and Contra Costa counties to protect women and children.” http://www.mercurynews.com/2015/04/16/feds-recognize-alameda-and-contra-costa-counties-for-work-caring-for-domestic-violence-victims/
Grand Opening of Central Contra Costa County’s First Family Justice Center
Central Family Justice Center Grand Opening of Central Contra Costa County’s First Family Justice Center Mar 19, 2015 Concord – After today, victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, elder abuse and human trafficking will have a place to go in Central to get the comprehensive assistance necessary to get out of harm’s way and obtain the services they need to heal and move forward in their lives. The Central Family Justice Center at 2151 Salvio Street, Suite 201, at Todos Santos Plaza in Downtown Concord, celebrated its official Grand Opening today at 12pm. With the support of dozens of community groups and private sector donors, this new facility, the first of its kind in Central Contra Costa County, is the brainchild of Concord Mayor Tim Grayson and Chief of Police Guy Swanger, who will both be speaking attomorrow’s opening. “National estimates show that victims of domestic and other kinds of abuse may have to access as many as 32 different agencies for assistance,” said Grayson, who in addition to serving his second year as Mayor of Concord is also the Emergency Response Chaplain for the Concord Police Department. “Oftentimes victims, with their children, are so frustrated and overwhelmed by maneuvering through the bureaucracies that they forego the help they need and return home to potentially dangerous environments,” Grayson added. “Our opening Central County’s first Family Justice Center will hopefully make it easier for victims to get the immediate help they need,” Grayson added. Grayson said that at least a dozen services will be easily accessible in or through the new Central Family Justice Center, which he anticipates will serve more than 2,000 individuals per year.
Concord Pd Reminds Residents of Central County Family Justice Center
Concord Pd Reminds Residents of Central County Family Justice Center The Family Justice Center is open and located at 2151 Salvio St. By SUSAN C. SCHENA (Patch Staff)March 30, 2015 News submitted from the Concord Police Department: The CCC Family Justice Center had its grand opening at 2151 Salvio Street. The center is a “one stop” shop to assist the central county communities with services. These services are designed to help victims of all crimes with a central location to get assistance. Services range from public information on victim resources, Domestic violence & criminal advocacy, Victim witness compensation, and law enforcement assistance. The center is opened Monday to Friday from 9am-5pm. Their phone number is (925) 521-6366. Please feel free to call for more information.
Concord: Central county family justice center a ‘one-stop shop’ for victims of abuse
Concord: Central county family justice center a ‘one-stop shop’ for victims of abuse Bay City News POSTED: 03/20/2015 12:25:17 PM PDT Gilbert Herrera, center, of Concord, visits with Dorea Stevens, right, of the Bay Area Crisis Nursery during the open house for the new Central Family Justice Center in Concord, Calif., on Thursday, March 19, 2015. (Dan Rosenstrauch/Bay Area News Group) ( DAN ROSENSTRAUCH ) CONCORD – When Concord police Chief Guy Swanger was a rookie cop fresh out of college, he said there was nothing more humbling than having to intervene in the relationships of couples who had been married longer than he had been alive. “You knew the situation was going to escalate into violence but you had no solutions, you had nowhere to turn,” Swanger said. “There wasn’t an officer out there who didn’t think, ‘I wish there was something I could do.’” It’s no coincidence, then, that several decades later, police chiefs from across the county joined with public officials today to celebrate the grand opening of the Central County Family Justice Center in Concord, he said.