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?

  1. 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

fjcc@magnoliahouseshelter.com

(912) 490-8926 or (912) 387-3644