Press Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: October 4, 2012 Contact person(s): Gloria Eurotas, Executive Director (707)

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FAMILY JUSTICE CENTERS ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY: SHINES SPOTLIGHT ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS
The Family Justice Center Sonoma County (FJCSC) invites the public to a free event celebrating one year of serving victims of domestic violence, elder abuse, and sexual assault in our community. When: Where: 11:30am-1:30pm FJCSC, 2755 Mendocino Ave. Parking available across from Peets

District Attorney Jill Ravitch, Executive Director Gloria Eurotas, and all the partners of the FJCSC are pleased to be showcasing the many faces of the FJC, as well as celebrating Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The featured guest speaker, Lori Burleson, sister of domestic violence homicide victim Kim Baucom (Conover), will be sharing her story. Other dynamic speakers will also address the crowd with a simple message for abuse victims: You are not alone. The FJCSC is here to help. There will be opportunities to visit information tables and refreshments will be provided. This event is FREE and open to the public, so please pass the information along. Please see the attached flyer, visit our website at www.FJCSC.org, or call (707) 5658255. Creating a safer community, the FJCSC co-locates comprehensive services for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, elder abuse, and child abuse. This approach is victim-centered, rather than agency-based. The collaborative model is designed to improve victim safety and recovery, increase success in offender prosecutions, and reduce family violence injuries and homicide. We seek to improve the services offered to victims and reduce the number of locations a victim must visit to tell their story and receive the help they need.

The United States Department of Justices Office on Violence against Women has identified the Family Justice Center model as a best practice in the field of domestic violence intervention and prevention services. The FJCSC is one of five original sites designated for grant and technical assistance through the California Family Justice Initiative. The FJCSC is a Sonoma County Upstream Investment Program and the passage of Senate Bill 557 offers both legislation for the Family Justice Center model and also identifies the FJC Sonoma County as a study site for the State of California. A broad coalition of law enforcement, local government and community based partners established the Family Justice Center Sonoma County. The County has been an invaluable partner in this endeavor. On-site Partner Agencies are the District Attorneys Office, Sheriffs Office, Santa Rosa Police Department, Human Services, Health Services, and community-based organizations including YWCA, Verity, Catholic Charities, Council on Aging, Legal Aid and Inter-Tribal Council. This coming year the Redwood Childrens Center (RCC) will transition to the FJCSC building. RCC is a multidisciplinary interview center staffed by a team of professionals that provides a child-friendly environment for forensic interviews and medical exams where child or developmentally disabled victims can be interviewed one time by one person rather than experience further trauma from multiple interviews.