Knoxville Family Justice Center

THE MISSION OF THE FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER IS TO FACILITATE A COORDINATED AND COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO FAMILY VIOLENCE THROUGH COLLABORATION, EDUCATION, AND ADVOCACY.

FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4A, PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS:NAVIGATION IS DESIGNED TO ORIENT CLIENTS THROUGH THE PARTNERSHIP OF SERVICES FOR VICTIMS OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE PROVIDED BY THE FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER (FJC). STAFF MEMBERS, INTERNS, AND VOLUNTEERS MEET CLIENTS WHEN THEY ARRIVE AT THE FJC AND TELL THEM ABOUT THE PARTNER AGENCIES AND HOW EACH ONE WORKS TO ASSIST SURVIVORS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE AND VICTIMS OF CRIME. NAVIGATION STAFF BRIEFLY REVIEW A FOLDER OF INFORMATION ENSURING THE INDIVIDUAL HAS A SAFE PLACE TO KEEP THE INFORMATION. THE REVIEW POLICIES FOR FILING A GRIEVANCE AND CAREFULLY REVIEW INFORMED CONSENT ENSURING THE INDIVIDUAL KNOWS THEY DO NOT HAVE TO SIGN IT. AFTER REVIEWING THE DIFFERENT AGENCIES, CLIENTS ARE EMPOWERED TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION OF WHAT AGENCY THEY WANT TO WORK WITH AND WHEN SERVICES THEY WANT TO RECEIVE. NAVIGATION STAFF CONNECTS THE INDIVIDUAL WITH THE AGENCY OF THEIR CHOICE. THIS PROGRAM USES APPROXIMATELY 3,400 SQUARE FEET OF THE SPACE IN THE FJC.DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, 1432 SURVIVORS OF ABUSE VISITED THE FJC FOR SERVICES FROM, AMONG OTHERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LEGAL AGENCIES, SOCIAL SERVICES, AND INDIVIDUAL ADVOCACY. SURVIVORS WERE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN EXIT SURVEYS. THROUGH THESE SURVEYS, A MAJORITY OF INDIVIDUALS REPORTED AN INCREASED SENSE OF SAFETY AND SECURITY, AN INCREASED KNOWLEDGE OF VICTIM SERVICES, COMMUNITY RESOURCES, CIVIL LEGAL OPTIONS, AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE MAJORITY OF INDIVIDUALS ALSO REPORTED RECEIVING IMPORTANT SAFETY PLANNING RESOURCES WHILE AT THE FJC AND REPORTED LEARNING ABOUT ORDERS OF PROTECTION AND HOW TO UTILIZE THEM AS PART OF THEIR SAFETY PLAN.THE NAVIGATION PROGRAM IS THE CORNERSTONE OF THE FJC'S SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY AND CONTINUES TO GROW TO BETTER SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.

FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4B - SECOND ACCOMPLISHMENT SERVICES THAT EMPOWER SURVIVORS - THIS PROGRAM FOCUSES ON PROVIDING CLIENT SPECIFIC ASSISTANCE FOR ANY CLIENT OF THE FJC. THIS ASSISTANCE INCLUDES GAS CARDS, BUS TICKETS (INCLUDING OUT OF TOWN), LOCK CHANGES, LANGUAGE INTERPRETATION, SNACKS, BOOKS, AND NURTURE ITEMS FOR CHILDREN.

FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4C - THIRD ACCOMPLISHMENTCOORDINATED COMMUNITY RESPONSE (CCR) - THE COORDINATED COMMUNITY RESPONSE (CCR) PROGRAM HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A BEST PRACTICE PROGRAM OF FAMILY JUSTICE CENTERS ACROSS THE NATION. A CCR IS A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY CRIMINAL JUSTICE INTERVENTION IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE THAT WORKS TO ENSURE SAFETY FOR VICTIMS AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR ABUSERS. EACH AGENCY HAS A ROLE IN THIS COLLABORATION, PROVIDING A CONSISTEN RESPONSE FROM BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICE PROVIDERS. THE CCR TRACKS THE SYSTEM'S RESPONSE TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES, MONITORS COMPLIANCE WITH POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, IDENTIFIES GAPS IN VICTIM SAFETY AND ABUSER ACCOUNTABILITY, AND FACILITATES CHANGE TO ADDRESS DEVELOPING TRENDS. THE CCR TEAM MEETS REGULARLY TO PLAN AND IMPLEMENT APPROPRIATE ASSESSMENTS AND INTERVENTIONS, IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE IMPROVED VICTIM SAFETY AND ABUSER ACCOUNTABILITY. THE ENTIRETY OF THE FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER FACILITY IS USED TO PROMOTE CCR ACTIVITIES.THE KNOXVILLE FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER'S CCR TEAM HAS SUCCESSFULLY MERGED THE TALENTS OF MULTIPLE IN-HOUSE PARTNERS, OFF-SITE PARTNERS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS TO IDENTIFY GAPS IN SERVICES FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. A RECENT EXAMPLE WOULD INCLUDE AN INDIVIDUAL WHO CAME TO THE FJC AND MET WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT REPRESENTATIVES TO FILE A POLICE REPORT, REQUESTED SHELTER FROM A NON-PROFIT ON-SITE PARTNER, OBTAINED ASSISTANCE COMPLETING A PETITION FOR AN ORDER OF PROTECTION, RECEIVED A REFERRAL TO LEGAL AID FOR REPRESENTATION IN COURT FOR THE ORDER OF PROTECTION, AND RECEIVED IMMEDIATE NEED ITEMS (CELL PHONE, TOILETRIES, SNACKS, AND CLOTHING) FROM THE FJC'S NAVIGATION STAFF. ALL OF THESE SERVICES OCCURRED WHILE THE CLIENT WAS IN ONE LOCATION DURING A SINGLE VISIT.