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Strengthening Families, Preventing Abuse Dear Friends, This past year has been one of significant achievements for our organization, the most notable being our transition into Connecticut’s first Family Justice Center. We proudly announce to you that we are now officially The Center for Family Justice. Our services for those affected by domestic and sexual violence will remain the same. The need for our programs continues to grow as this insidious social ill permeates too many of our families in the six towns we serve – Bridgeport, Easton, Fairfield, Monroe, Stratford and Trumbull. This past year we have served more than 4,000 clients through our 24-hour crisis hotline, emergency shelter, domestic violence support groups, individual adult and child crisis counseling, victim law enforcement advocacy, and prevention, education and outreach. The im- pact we have had is most powerfully expressed by our clients. We know what a difference we have made when so many of them express their gratitude with words such as “The Center saved my life!” In addition, our prevention and education work with youth is done with purpose and intent: to help raise our children to respect themselves and others, and diminish any chance of them becoming victims or perpetrators of abuse. Each year we educate more than 5,000 children and teens about building healthy relationships, bullying preven- tion and teen dating violence awareness. The Center for Family Justice will be offering all of our services under one roof. We anticipate a reduction in recantations by our clients as well as a reduction in the number of homicides. Other justice centers throughout the country have experienced this positive result and we expect to see this welcome change in our towns. We also believe that our comprehensive partnership initiatives will increase as re- sources permit. Individuals and families in the recovery process of healing will be stronger, more self-sufficient and feel a greater support from all of us. As we look toward the future of our organization, we also reflect on some other significant accomplishments of this past year: • We held 7 domestic violence vigils, two in Bridgeport and one in each of the other towns. • We opened our fourth satellite office in Stratford, joining the previously opened ones in Fairfield, Monroe and Trumbull. These offices afford those who live in the suburbs easier access to our services. • We held our fourth Public Policy Breakfast with many community partners and legislators to inform them of our progress with our justice center. • We have continued to engage boys and men through our White Ribbon initiative in the critical work of preventing domestic and sexual violence. As a result our communities are able to better understand that the scope and magnitude of domestic and sexual violence is a problem that can no longer be referenced as a “woman’s” issue. Rather, it is a “human” problem, and one that deserves the full attention and engagement of boys and men. No amount of advocacy and treatment will ever equal the benefits of prevention. • We opened our first transitional house, “Paul’s Place,” where our clients can go after staying in our safe-home. • We received a $1.2 million bond from the state of Connecticut to refurbish our facility and parking area. This past year has truly been a time of great celebration and pride for our remarkable organization. We have been driven by an unprec- edented commitment to our clients and communities during this transition process. We also know that we could never have made such progress without the steadfast support and dedication from all of you. We would also like to extend our appreciation to our visionary staff and Board of Directors as well as tireless volunteers and community partners. Many thanks for your continued trust, confidence and partnership with The Center for Family Justice. With deep appreciation, Deb Greenwood Andrea Goodman President/CEO Board Chair Family Justice Center: At a Glance THE TRANSITION On January 21, 2014, The Center for Women and Families of Eastern Fairfield County officially changed its name to The Center for Family Justice, Inc., beginning an 18-month transformation into Connecticut’s first Family Justice Center and the 85th in the world. We are the model that other justice centers in Connecticut will follow. WHAT IS A FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER? Family Justice Centers use a coordinated approach to offer services designed to break the cycle of violence, in a safe place, under one roof. Police, prosecutors, civil/legal providers, counselors and client advocates work togeth- er to streamline how they help people heal while reducing costs. THE CENTER FOR FAMILY JUSTICE Although our name has changed, we continue with the work we have pro- vided for 12 decades: providing free, confidential, bilingual crisis services that help all people plagued by domestic and sexual violence restore their lives, and educating our communities to prevent future abuse. It is the compre- hensive services our partners are providing that are streamlining the road to healing and self-sufficiency. Statistics show it is urgent that we stand up against domestic and sexual assault: • 1 in 4 women and 1 out of 6 men are abused • Every 15 seconds another person is abused Chief Patrick Ridenhour, Trumbull, Debra A. • 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be sexually assaulted by their 18th birthday Greenwood, President and CEO, The Center • 89 percent of the homeless are victims of domestic abuse for Family Justice, Chief Gary MacNamara, Fairfield at the Family Justice Center • Up to 60 percent of men who abuse their female partners abuse their conference children The Center for Family Justice is working to lower these tragic statistics in the six communities we serve: Bridge- port, Easton, Fairfield, Monroe, Stratford and Trumbull. WHY THE CHANGE? We know the FJC model works, based on documented outcomes since the first FJC opened in San Diego, CA, in 2002 that include: • Reduced homicides • Increased community support services • Increased safety and autonomy, which is empowering for clients • Reduced fear and anxiety, recantation and minimization for those suffering from domestic and sexual violence • Increased prosecution of offenders • Reduced costs because all services are in one place • Streamlined processes WE ARE ON OUR WAY! • On Jan. 9, the state bond commission awarded The Center $1.2 million to refurbish our Bridgeport headquarters: HVAC system, roof, new parking lot, fencing, phones and computer system. Our thanks to State Sen. Andres Ayala for championing this initiative for The Center. • In February, we held the first Steering Committee meeting for the Family Justice Center. Please consider joining one of our task forces: law enforcement; civil/legal; funding/sustainability; public relations/marketing; operations and service delivery; governance and facilities. For more information, contact Mary Ann Mencel, mmencel@cen- terforfamilyjustice.org or 203-334-6154, ext. 34. • We also received a $162,000 grant from Gov. Dannel Malloy, which will be used for green improvements to the boiler, and in the kitchen and bathrooms. These green initiatives should save The Center $5,000 a year. 2 2013-14 FJC ANNUAL REPORT At a Glance July 1, 2012 — June 30, 2013 Strengthening Families, Preventing Abuse Formerly The Center For Women and Families 2013-14 FJC ANNUAL REPORT 3 The Center Programs The Center for Family Justice is dedicated to eliminating do- Community Education and Prevention Training mestic and sexual violence though crisis intervention, educa- The Center’s community outreach includes: tion, advocacy and community collaboration. • 45-to-90-minute presentations to children, preschool through Grade 12, the staff and the community on build- Services within The Center go beyond dealing with the victim’s ing healthy relationships, bullying and teen dating vio- immediate trauma. Through our continuum of care we teach lence. prevention education, train professionals, and raise conscious- • 2-to-3-hour trainings for professionals who want to en- ness on the community and legislative levels to create social hance their skills, knowledge and response to the issues change to end domestic and sexual violence. Self-sufficiency of domestic and sexual violence. All trainings increase the planning, housing supports and help with basic needs are sup- attendees’ capacity to recognize, respond to and prevent plied either by The Center or through well-developed commu- violence to create social change. nity partnerships. Criminal and Civil Court Services: Annually, The Center serves more than 10,000 individuals, pro- • The Center’s Criminal Court Advocates work in the Do- viding free, bi-lingual services to people in the six towns we mestic Violence Docket at the Bridgeport criminal court. serve. Primary program services include: Advocates assist with obtaining protective orders, safety planning and providing information to help people im- Crisis and Housing Services pacted by domestic violence understand and navigate • Emergency Hotlines provides immediate crisis services the criminal court process following a batterer’s arrest for through our 24/7 domestic violence and sexual assault family violence. bi-lingual hotlines. Hotline staff provides immediate crisis • A Civil Court Advocate is stationed at the Bridgeport civ- intervention, safety planning, information and resourc- il courthouse to help people complete the paperwork to es for people in crisis, in addition to providing support, obtain a Temporary

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