Family Justice Center
Magnolia House has been awarded a 4-year grant to move forward on the development of a Family Justice Center in Waycross, Georgia. The Family Justice Center will be a multi-agency, multi-disciplinary, co-located center that provides services to victims of interpersonal violence under one roof. The Waycross Family Justice Center will provide service to all six counties of the Waycross Judicial Circuit. This is a great opportunity and accomplishment for the victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Child Abuse in our six counties.
The Family Justice Center model will build upon our community’s strong partnerships and provide new opportunities for collaboration and innovation. Once the Waycross Family Justice Center is open, victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Child Abuse will be connected quickly and confidentially to a full range of services provided by our community partners at one location. The Center will streamline services via a centralized intake process and will reduce the number of places victims must go and times they must tell their story to receive services.
What is a
Family Justice Center?
Victim-Centered Service Center
* One Stop Shop for Victims
* Reduces number of times victims tell their story
2. Collaborative Community Hub
* Collaborative Atmosphere
* Coordination of Services Improved.
3. Public-Private Partnership
* Governmental/Non-Profit working together.
* Existing services under one roof.
* Best Practice Model
4. Reduced homicides, increased victim safety, reduced fear.
5. Increased accountability for and prosecution of offenders.
Why do we need a
Family Justice Center?
To serve victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Child Abuse.
• Streamline services via a centralized intake process, reducing the number of places a victim must go to receive services.
• Reduce calls to 911 from same house and cycles of domestic violence being broken for children.
• To assist in accessing other vital services and resources that Victims need: shelter, food, TPO, clothing, compensation, medical care, counseling, support groups, employment assistance, housing, childcare.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Michelle Girtman, Magnolia House Executive Director
Chief Tommy Cox, Waycross Police Department
Major Danny Hampton, Waycross Police Department
Captain Paul Crawford, Waycross Police Department
Sheriff Carl James, Ware County Sheriff Department
Chief Deputy Travis McNease, Ware County Sheriff Department
Major Neil Skerratt, Ware County Sheriff Department
Joseph Johnson, Ware County Solicitor
Cathy Cason, Director Ware County DFCS
Doree Avera, Georgia Legal Services
Laura Shiver, Georgia Legal Services
Carmen Knox, Georgia Legal Services
Heather Minshew, Victim Advocate
Patrick Simmons, City of Waycross
Terry Anderson, Victim Advocate
Lucille Husbands, Magnolia House Fiscal/HR/Admin Manager
If you're interested in learning more about Waycross Family Justice Center
and how you can help, please contact:
Heather Flowers
Waycross Family Justice Center Site Coordinator
(912) 490-8926 or (912) 387-3644