About Us
Nurture courage. Create hope. Sustain healing.
Every day at the Family Justice Center of Erie County (FJC) these three goals are being met for victims of domestic violence in our community. Through our one-stop, free, wrap-around services, domestic violence victims can meet with a prosecutor, speak to a trained counselor, have injuries documented in our forensic medical unit and arrange for placement in a safe and secure shelter – all in their native language while their children play safely in a supervised waiting room just down the hall.
While Erie County agencies have offered services for domestic violence victims for many years, access to the services was not always easy. A victim might have been required to visit several agencies, all in different locations. Not only did this pose a problem for victims without easy access to transportation, it also allowed for the possible “re-traumatization” of clients who had to tell their stories over and over again to various people. Fragmented services also compromise safety.
The Family Justice Center puts an end to the many barriers that victims once faced as they sought help. It is a collaboration of 10 on-site partners, including the Buffalo Police Department, Erie County District Attorney, Neighborhood Legal Services, Crisis Services, Haven House, Hispanics United of Buffalo, International Institute of Buffalo, Child Advocacy Center and the University of Buffalo Department of Family Medicine. These professionals work together to support victims and their needs across a continuum of care.
The FJC is a place where violence stops, where families heal and where hope is realized.
