1625 I Street Modesto, CA 95354 Website: http://www.stanislausfamilyjustice.org/ Phone: (209) 525-5130 Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:00pm

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Vision: Together we break the cycle of violence.

The Stanislaus Family Justice Center is located in Modesto, California, a predominantly agricultural community in Central California.  According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Stanislaus County has a population of 514,453 people and the city of Modesto has a population of 205,721 people.

Stanislaus County has a long history of community efforts to end family violence.  Haven Women’s Center was founded in 1977 providing domestic violence support services to battered women and their children.  In 1993 Haven expanded its services by merging with the Stanislaus Rape Task Force.  The Family and Domestic Violence Coordinating Council of Stanislaus County was formed in 1995 to facilitate and support collaboration and partnerships that build and sustain healthy families and communities.  The Stanislaus District Attorney's Office, Modesto Police Department and Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department have had specialized Domestic Violence Units since 1995 and a victim advocate has been assigned to the District Attorney’s Unit since the its inception.

The District Attorney’s Office was at the forefront of developing the Family Justice Center in Stanislaus County.  The Sheriff was also a strong proponent and supporter of the Family Justice Center and provided staff to work on various committees as the FJC development commenced.  On April 15, 2009, the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance establishing the Family Justice Center.  Members of the Modesto City Council sat on committees at the beginning of the development of the Family Justice Center and worked to find a building for the Center.  A member of the Stanislaus County Chief Executive's Office participated in the Management/Governance Committee.  The County provided staff to assist in site location, lease negotiations, and provided information technology for the Center.

The Stanislaus Family Justice Center operates under a 501(c)3 governance structure.  The CAIRE Center Foundation, a long standing local child abuse nonprofit, elected to change its name and expand its scope to become the Stanislaus Family Justice Center (SFJC) Foundation.

The Stanislaus Family Justice Center grand opening was held October 22, 2010.  The Center’s grand opening was strategically scheduled to commence immediately following the Family and Domestic Violence Coordinating Council’s annual conference.  The conference had over 300 attendees, the majority of which then attended the SFJC grand opening.  This was a very successful way of offering training, while raising awareness for the new Center.

Tom Ciccarelli was hired as the executive director of the Stanislaus Family Justice Center.  A bilingual receptionist, navigator, executive secretary and a director of community partnerships support the director and the work of the Center.  The Foundation Board oversees the finance and accounting responsibilities of the Center.

The SFJC is situated in a stand-alone 9,600 square foot building that is close to public transportation, the library, and other businesses.  A five year lease was negotiated with the option to lease up to 11 years.  The two story building was formerly a medical center with multiple offices.  It was beautifully renovated in soothing colors of green and burgundy to house the Family Justice Center staff and partner agencies.

From the time the Stanislaus FJC opened and started serving clients in November 2010 through March 2011, 93 adults and 150 children were served at the Center.  An additional 119 clients received services from the CAIRE Center onsite. Approximately 92% of adults and 67% of child abuse victims were female with the remaining 8% and 33%, respectively, of victims being male. Services such as counseling, shelter assistance, legal assistance, chaplaincy services and criminal justice system assistance were all provided to these clients onsite.