2755 Mendocino Avenue Suite 100 Santa Rosa, CA 95403 Phone: (707) 565-8255 Website: http://www.fjcsc.org/ Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00am-5:00pm

The Family Justice Center Sonoma County is located in Santa Rosa on the northern coast of California’s wine country.  According to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau, Sonoma County has a population of nearly 484,000 people. Sonoma is characterized as farm and wine country, surrounded by redwood forests, rivers, lakes, and ocean.

Efforts to end violence against women in Sonoma County began in the early 1970’s.  Women Against Rape (now called Verity) was founded in 1974 by a group of pioneering women that started a rape crisis line that still operates to this day.  In 1975, the YWCA Sonoma County was founded by a group of local women who volunteered their own homes as an underground network of safe houses.  In 1976, the YWCA Sonoma County opened the YWCA Safe House, which was among the first fifteen domestic violence shelters in the United States.  Today, the YWCA continues to provide shelter services, crisis intervention, advocacy, counseling, and legal advice in the community.

The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Unit was founded October 1996. The Unit moved offsite from headquarters and formed a community-oriented partnership with the YWCA Sonoma County and District Attorney's Office to provide domestic violence and sexual assault services to the community in one location.  In November 2000, the YWCA Sonoma County began staffing a domestic violence advocate at the Sonoma Police Department to serve Sonoma Valley.  Similarly, the Santa Rosa Police Department took a collaborative approach to combating family violence and sexual assault by co-locating advocates from Verity, the YWCA Sonoma County, Council on Aging and Catholic Charities.

In October 2008, with over 40 individuals from government and community based organizations in attendance, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to endorse the development of a Family Justice Center in Sonoma County. The decision was made after reviewing a feasibility study completed by the Glen Price Group, which revealed that victims could be referred to over 23 different locations for help and determined that establishing a Family Justice Center would improve outcomes for victims.  In June 2009, over 70 multidisciplinary professionals participated in a strategic planning kickoff meeting, also facilitated by the Glen Price Group, to initiate planning the Family Justice Center.

An interim governance structure for the Family Justice Center was adopted to facilitate rapid decision making and move forward on planning, execute partner agreements, carry out grant objectives, and move toward co-location in a permanent building as quickly as possible.  Interim governance during this period, and FJCSC fiscal responsibilities and operations, fell under the District Attorney's Office with oversight from the County Board of Supervisors. The Executive Team of the FJCSC consisted of Captain McCaffrey of the Sonoma County Sheriff's Department, Assistant District Attorney Christine Cook, YWCA Chief Executive Officer Denise Frey, and Captain Schreeder of the Santa Rosa Police Department.

Laura Colgate was hired in February 2010 as project manager to coordinate the work of the task forces and see the FJC through opening and the hiring of an Executive Director.  She played a crucial role in coordinating and implementing the strategic planning efforts of the task forces and stakeholders and ensuring the development of best practices in victim service delivery.  On August 3, 2010 the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors voted to support creation of the Family Justice Center Sonoma County, accept the FJC Business Plan, authorize the use of an office building purchased by the County, authorize staff to proceed with the project using a phased approach, execute a contract with the architecture firm to commence design work, and approve the use of lease savings and revenue to pay ongoing building operation and maintenance cost.

A ground breaking ceremony held October 8, 2010 commenced the renovation efforts on the FJC’s permanent building. While the facility underwent renovations, Laura Colgate implemented policies and procedures for the Family Justice Center to operate in two interim locations.  From April 2010, six advocates designated to the FJC were co-located within the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department and Santa Rosa Police Department and working as a “virtual” FJC. Operating in a temporary location on a smaller scale allowed the Project Manager to create close working relationships between FJC advocate staff and to streamline policies and procedures and interagency referrals prior to operating on a full-scale basis.  Building renovations were scheduled for completion in late summer 2011, in time for a September 2011 grand opening.

Direct service staff members include a YWCA navigator, a YWCA advocate, a Verity advocate (sexual assault), a Council on Aging advocate, a Catholic Charities, and a Legal Aid advocate.  Advocates responded to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and elder abuse and assisted with safety planning, restraining orders, immigration issues and other needs. To date, the FJCSC has served over 600 clients and has referred over 1,000 clients to partner agencies.