Susun Kim Named Contra Costa County Prosecutor’s Association Champion for Justice of 2016!
Susun Kim, Executive Director of the Contra Costa Family Justice Alliance was honored as the Contra Costa County Prosecutor’s Association Champion for Justice of 2016!
Supervisor John Gioia Lists Family Justice Center as Public Safety Accomplishment for Contra Costa County
Improving the lives of Contra Costans – Working Together As we enter 2016, I’m excited to build on the momentum of Contra Costa County’s accomplishments last year, highlighted below. I’m proud to have worked alongside so many other great people, from community groups, business, labor, and government, to improve the quality of life in our County, and look forward to continuing our partnerships. I believe our accomplishments demonstrate the positive role that government can play in making our community a better place to live. Here are a few highlights: We improved the health of Contra Costa residents More County residents than ever are now covered by health insurance because of our successful local Medi-Cal expansion effort under the Affordable Care Act. Nearly one-fifth of County residents (that’s nearly 200,000 people) are enrolled in our Contra Costa Health Plan and a majority of them are being cared for in our own hospital and clinics. We expanded health and dental care for youth by partnering with Kennedy High in Richmond to open a community health clinic at the school. The County now helps run more than 40 school-based health centers We saved lives of County residents who suffered heart attacks. Last year, the American Heart Association nationally recognized our Emergency Medical Services Agency for its work in optimizing the care of heart-attack patients during transport to the hospital, and in emergency rooms. We expanded healthcare to undocumented families by partnering with local hospitals and community clinics to establish a preventative healthcare plan for undocumented families. We improved public safety in our County We improved ambulance response times by approving an innovative public-private partnership between the Contra Costa Fire District and AMR to provide high quality emergency ambulance service to most County residents (including West County). This will speed ambulance response time, reduce service duplication, and allow us to obtain new federal funding. We opened two Family Justice Centers (in Richmond and Concord) to provide vital one-stop services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, and elder abuse. We expanded services to the formerly incarcerated to help them get stable housing and employment, which reduces the likelihood of criminal recidivism and improves community safety. We helped open a one-stop Reentry Success Center in Richmond and created housing opportunities in Central and East County. We broke ground on an urban educational farm in North Richmond. We are improving opportunities for youth to lead healthy, safe and successful lives by partnering with non-profit Urban Tilth to develop an innovative urban educational farm. We made our County a more sustainable place to live We made it easier for residents of unincorporated areas to finance energy and water conservation improvements by establishing a Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program. We’re hiring a new County Sustainability Coordinator to help lead our sustainability initiatives and pursue new funding to expand those efforts. We approved a Climate Action Plan identifying how the County will achieve its greenhouse gas reduction targets while supporting public health, energy efficiency, water conservation, and air quality goals. These efforts will result in lower energy bills and enhance our quality of life. We are studying Community Choice Energy to enable us to receive more of our electricity from renewables like wind and solar. We supported clean technology by passing a law to require electric vehicle charging stations in new multi-family and commercial developments, and purchasing electric vehicles for the County fleet. We supported our most vulnerable families We helped low-income families become more self-sufficient by expanding pre-school opportunities for children and making assistance to buy healthy foods available in three rather than 30 days, to those with immediate food needs. We helped families affected by mental illness by implementing Laura’s Law to provide assisted outpatient treatment to individuals with serious mental illness, and by further integrating our mental health, substance abuse and homeless services. We honored and supported our Veterans by helping, through our Veterans Service Office, nearly 6,000 veterans access $24 million in well-deserved and life-changing benefits. We protected the taxpayer and the County’s fiscal health We approved a structurally balanced budget of over $3 billion while exercising strong financial management. We maintained the County’s AAA credit rating (the highest possible) enabling us to restructure debt and save taxpayers 4 ½ million dollars. We supported the hard work of our County employees We concluded labor negotiations providing well-deserved wage increases and reduced health care costs for most of our county employees after they made sacrifices during lean years of financial challenge. I’m looking forward to continuing to serve Contra Costa residents and am always open to your ideas or suggestions. Please send an email to John_Gioia@bos.cccounty.us with any thoughts or concerns. Sincerely, John John Gioia Supervisor, District One Contra Costa County 11780 San Pablo Avenue, Suite D El Cerrito, CA 94530 510-231-8686 Phone 510-374-3429 Fax John_Gioia@bos.cccounty.us www.cocobos.org/gioia
Family Justice Center Opens at New Location
After breaking ground in 2013, the West Contra Costa Family Justice Center held its grand opening this month at 256 24th Street. In the first year at its new location, the center is expected to help an estimated 2,000 survivors of domestic violence, family violence, elder abuse and human trafficking. The center moved from its temporary location at Richmond Police Department’s substation at Hilltop Mall, where it had operated since 2011. Mayor Tom Butt, who spoke at the opening reception, said the center was the first… Read More
Richmond: Family Justice Center Offers Services, Hope to Community
RICHMOND — Menbere Aklilu said she was alone, scared and nine months pregnant when she fled an abusive relationship. Her husband had beat her, verbally abused her and left a trail of cigarette burns on her body. Eventually, Aklilu found a women’s shelter where she gave birth and began piecing her life together. “I allowed myself to be abused one more day because I had nowhere to go or anyone who to contact,” said Aklilu, who was born and raised in Ethiopia and immigrated to the United States 20 years ago. On Thursday, Aklilu, who now owns Salute, a popular Italian restaurant in Richmond, shared her story during the grand opening of the West County Family Justice Center, a one-stop resource center for victims of domestic and sexual violence, elder abuse and human trafficking. Read More
West County Family Justice Center Holds Well-Attended, Emotional Grand Opening
After more than a decade in the making, West Contra Costa County’s first permanent one-stop center to assist victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and other abuse held its grand opening Thursday. The West Contra Costa Family Justice Center at 256 24th St. is an all-inclusive resource for victims and their families, providing access to an array of social services and law enforcement assistance. Its newly renovated 7,200-square-foot facility replaces the temporary site at the Richmond Police Department substation at Hilltop Mall, which opened in 2011. While in the past victims would have to travel to various locations around the county to tap various resources, the West County center includes those services in one spot and within walking distance of BART. The… Read More
New family justice center opens doors in Richmond
RICHMOND — Ten years ago, it was a mere dream. On Thursday, the West Contra Costa Family Justice Center will finally open its doors to the public at a grand opening celebration starting 3 p.m. The center, located at 256 24th St. in Richmond, will be a refuge for victims of domestic and sexual violence, a one-stop shop were clients can meet with police, counselors and attorneys, obtain emergency shelter, safe housing and job-placement help. The new center, a 7,200-square-foot facility located inside a former mental health patient intake center, will be within walking distance to the Richmond BART station. “What’s unique about the center is that it’s client-centric,” said Contra Costa Family Justice Center Executive Director Susun Kim. “Without it, the victim has to navigate through 20 to 30 different systems, travel to different locations and navigate different systems all while in crisis. This makes it easier for them to access services and get to safety faster.” Beyond crisis intervention, the center will also offer housing, educational and other services to help clients not only get back on their feet but also thrive, Kim said. Thursday’s festivities are open to the public and begin with guided tours starting at 3 p.m., followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 4 p.m. and an open house at 5 p.m. Contact Karina Ioffee at 510-262-2726 or kioffee@bayareanewsgroup.com. Follow her at Twitter.com/kioffee Download the pdf flyer from San Jose Mercury News
Concord City News and Activity Guide – Summer 2015
Family Justice Center Opens in Downtown Concord “Concord’s Central County Family Justice Center (FJC) is open for business. A ribbon cutting and open house were held March 19 at the FJC offices in Salvio Pacheco Square, 2151 Salvio St., Suite 201.” Read on and see the pictures in the pdf version.
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.