14535 Gault Street Van Nuys, CA 91405 Phone: (818) 304-8900 Website: http://www.valleycaresfjc.com/  Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00am-5:00pm

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The Valley CARES Family Justice Center is located in Van Nuys, a suburban neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley within the City of Los Angeles. The community has a population of slightly over 103,000 people.

Northridge Hospital serves as lead agency for the Valley CARES Family Justice Center. The Center is unique in that it is strongly partnered with Northridge Hospital’s Center for Assault Treatment Services (CATS), the only 24 hour, 7 day-a-week program serving victims of sexual abuse and assault in the San Fernando and Santa Clarita Valleys of Los Angeles County, California. Michael Wall, Chief Executive Officer of Northridge Hospital provided tremendous vision and support for the Valley CARES Family Justice Center and created a board responsible for seeking funding for the sustainability of the Center.  Mr. Wall was a proponent of the co-location model and the hospital assumed significant financial responsibility for the Center recognizing that many victims often seek medical services.

The Valley CARES Family Center grand opening was held September 14, 2010.  Northridge Hospital leased a building that adjoins the Center for Assault Treatment Services and renovated it for the Center’s use. The Center was beautifully decorated with hand painted murals and artwork, creating a comfortable environment for clients and staff alike.

Kathy Adams is Clinical Director of Northridge Hospital’s Center for Assault Treatment Services (CATS) and served as Project Leader on the Learning Exchange Team.  Kim Roth, Executive Director of Valley Trauma Center and Detective Angela Grant-Romeral of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) were onsite partners and worked with Kathy as part of the FJC leadership team.  Upon the Center’s opening, the three provided day-to-day operational oversight of the Center. Overwhelmed with managing the FJC in addition to their regular jobs, the immediate need to hire a FJC director was recognized. Kathy Adams was soon promoted to Interim Director of the Family Justice Center in addition to her role as Clinical Director of CATS. Kathy reports to Michael Wall.

The Center provides numerous onsite services including, advocacy, safety planning case management, court accompaniment, civil law services (TROs, custody, divorce, immigration), therapeutic services, law enforcement expertise, assistance in accessing shelter or housing, onsite childcare, education/employment planning, financial planning, and medical evidentiary exams by specially trained forensic nurse examiners. Onsite partner agencies include Northridge Hospital’s Center of Assault Treatment Service, Valley Trauma Center, Los Angeles Police Department, Neighborhood Legal Services, Department of Child and Family Services, and the Los Angeles City and District Attorney.

The total number of onsite client visits to Valley CARES totaled 944 from November 1, 2010 through May 31, 2011. Victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and child sexual abuse were provided services such as counseling, advocacy, court accompaniment, access to law enforcement, medical exams, safety planning, restraining order filings and many others. Services were provided in the warm, inviting and comforting setting of the Valley CARES FJC. The majority of the victims coming to Valley CARES were women (92%) with the remaining 8% being males victims who also received services from partner agencies.