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A Message from the FJC Board President
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Dear FJCSC supporters,
I am honored to have been chosen as the new Board President for the Family Justice Center Sonoma County Foundation by my fellow dedicated board members. I hope you will continue to help me support and enhance the amazing work that we do at the FJC to assist people in our community to deal with one of the most personal and difficult experiences of being a victim of abuse.
In case you don't know me, here's a little bit about myself: I joined the Sonoma County District Attorney's Office Environmental Consumer Protection Division in June 2016. I have been an attorney for 36 years. Prior to joining the SCDA's Office, I was the City Attorney for the City of Santa Rosa for eight years and an Assistant City Attorney for seven years. I was born in London, England, but I've lived in beautiful Santa Rosa for 28 years.
I look forward to meeting you or seeing you at our FJC events and thank you for your continued support! Have a great new year!
Sincerely,
Caroline Fowler
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The Human Trafficking Task Force of Sonoma County will present a film screening of "Chosen" to raise human trafficking awareness.
This will be followed by a panel of local experts from the task force.
Be a part of the discussion, please join us for one of the screenings below!
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- Wednesday, January 29th from 6:30pm - 8:30pm at the Raven Film Center, 415 Center Street, Healdsburg, CA
- Wednesday, February 5th from 6pm - 8pm at Finley Community Center, 2060 W. College Ave. Santa Rosa, CA
- Wednesday, February 26 from 6pm - 8pm at SSU Student Center, 1801 East Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park, CA
For questions E-mail: SCHTTF@sonoma-county.org
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From the Shoes of a Human Trafficking Survivor
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Elizabeth became a victim of human trafficking at the age of 15 after running away from an abusive home where she experienced years of physical and emotional abuse and neglect. When she found a long-desired father figure who offered her love and attention, she thought her life was finally changing in a positive way. Little did she understand about human trafficking, manipulation and the abuse used to maintain control over her. Elizabeth found herself stuck in a vicious cycle of drug addiction that made it nearly impossible to seek help and leave. Today, Elizabeth is a survivor of human trafficking who shares her story of healing and how she copes with the lingering effects of her experience. She advocates for victims and survivors and explains how others can support human trafficking victims.
How did you finally leave your abuser and human trafficking?
I was caught with drugs and was arrested. I made a phone call and heard my three month old crying in the background. That is when it hit me. My son. I realized I was continuing the cycle. I knew I needed to get out. My son needed me. I did everything possible to get sober and to get out to be with him. Thanks to my son, I got my life back.
From your perspective, how bad is the human trafficking problem in Sonoma County?
Human Trafficking is happening in every city. It is definitely happening in Sonoma County, and what makes it bad and scary is that its being done behind closed doors. Victims are not being sold at corners. They are being kept hidden and no one can spot it. Sonoma County residents are still having a hard time believing that it is happening in our back yard because they do not see it.
What are the early signs to look for in teens?
If you notice your child, family member, student or teen: ditching school, failing classes, staying up all night and wanting to sleep in all day, you should check in with them. Oftentimes those are signs that require interventions and guidance. Tattoos that imply possession (i.e. “wifey,” “property of” “belongs to” etc.). Drugs. You should be vigilant and ask questions if you notice teens with nice things all of a sudden like expensive clothing, electronics, jewelry, etc.
How are you healing and coping from the lingering effects?
I started a human trafficking survivor group, I’m on the Human Trafficking Task Force, I’m constantly doing outreach and trying to advocate for other victims. Giving back to my community provides healing and helps me cope. I am also working with my partner to open up a safe house for Human Trafficking victims here in Sonoma County called Redemption House.
What could we do as a community to help prevent and reduce human trafficking?
Get educated in regards to Human Trafficking. Go to a panel, watch a documentary, ask questions. If you see something, you can step up and report it. Donate to local agencies that work with human trafficking survivors, like Verity, The Family Justice Center or Redemption House. Go out and be part of street outreach that Verity and Redemption House does. Volunteer to bring home cooked meals to a local support group. There are a lot of ways to get involved and be the change our community needs.
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"The Assessment process helped staff build stronger rapport and relationships with clients, something that may have led to the increase in return visits among clients who completed the
Assessment Tool."
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Want to learn more about this initiative?
Visit the link below to read the short report of the Polyvictimization initiative.
For more info email Kelsey Price at kelsey.price@sonoma-county.org
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FJC REPORT: Polyvictimization Initiative
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In October 2016, the Family Justice Center Sonoma County (FJCSC) began a three-year project funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime called the Polyvictimization Demonstration Initiative (Initiative). Along with the other five sites nationwide and the technical assistance provider, Alliance for HOPE International, the FJCSC and its partners worked to develop, pilot, and implement a Polyvictimization
Assessment Tool designed to identify polyvictim clients, learn more about their experiences with traumatic events, improve services, and reduce their risk of re-victimization.
In addition to the Polyvictimization Assessment Tool, which all six sites used, the FJCSC created a seven-question Screener that clients could fill out along with their intake paperwork. The intention of this Screener was to help identify who may be a polyvictim and therefore eligible for the full Assessment.
The FJCSC discovered that the vast majority of its clients are experiencing polyvictimization. As a result, the Center created new policies and practices to better serve its polyvictim clients, including creating a more trauma-informed space and implementing new holistic services for clients.
FJCSC Accomplishments
Throughout the three-year Initiative, the FJCSC began the process of transforming from a crisis-intervention model to trauma-informed holistic service provider, and has been successful in doing so. The physical space, including the lobby and Soft Rooms within the Nest, were redesigned using trauma-informed principles to create a warm, welcoming, and calming environment.
The FJCSC also implemented a number of holistic services aimed at providing polyvictim-specific therapeutic services and with the goal of creating a space that clients want to return to for continued care.
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Thanks to the Active 20-30 Club of the Redwood Empire #1029, FJCSC Camp HOPE youth have been participating in a monthly series of art projects with Dayana (Day) Leon, an art instructor who brings her talent and helps the children express themselves through a variety of fun art projects.
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Dayana Leon is a Latinx artist with a BFA in Painting, with distinction, from Sonoma State University. Her figurative paintings observe a habitual world of enhancement, exploration, and identity crisis. While her paintings confront the physical changes women go through to feel included, she interprets her own personal and psychological experiences of cultural assimilation through metaphors and the lenses of her subjects. Determined to help students recognize their potential, she shares her passion for art and higher education with Sonoma County youth. For three years, she worked with The Imagine Bus Project to provide art as form of expression to incarcerated youth. She was awarded TIBP’s Teaching Artist of the Year for 2017 and is a Discovered Emerging Artist Awardee of 2016, powered by Creative Sonoma. She's taught art education though the Art4Kids Education Program at the Museums of Sonoma County. And, has worked for other local non-profits such as Academic Talent Search Precollege Program at Sonoma State University and Food Empowerment Project.
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To learn more about Art Nights or to a make a donation please contact Fabiola Espinosa at 707-565-8254. Thank you!
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Program Spotlight: Homeless Outreach Team
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The Homeless Outreach Team, located at the Family Justice Center, helps victims of crime who are experiencing homelessness by providing a variety of services and vouchers. Case management is provided in hopes of connecting clients with housing, food, and other services. The Homeless Outreach Team has helped over 330 new clients in the last fiscal year.
Many success stories have come out of the FJC thanks to the Homeless Outreach Team. Jenny’s story below is an example of just one of the many successes (client’s name has been changed for confidentiality purposes).
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Jenny, a mother of a nine-year-old boy came to the Family Justice Center in need of services. Jenny was navigated by a YWCA Navigator and after receiving a variety of services, she was referred to the Homeless Outreach Team. Jenny was a victim of domestic violence and was fleeing her abuser. When she fled, her only option was to couch surf with a mentally unstable, emotionally abusive family member. She did not feel safe bringing her son with her, so he stayed with his father temporarily (Jenny and her son’s father are amicable, but being apart from her son was very difficult for her).
Jenny who aspires to become a psychologist and is a full-time student with a full-time job was previously caring for her elderly grandmother (who had recently moved out of state to live with another relative who could care for her 24/7).
The Homeless Outreach Team provided Jenny with short-term financial assistance – gas, food (Safeway), Goodwill vouchers, and a listing of the available housing resources. The Homeless Outreach Team coordinator also enrolled her in the Coordinated Entry System and provided Jenny with information about the new Rapid Rehousing Program for victims of domestic violence. The following day, Jenny contacted the coordinator to report she had found a place to rent in her child’s school district and was in the process of getting approved.
The coordinator contacted the Coordinated Entry administrator and the YWCA Housing Navigator to advocate for Jenny’s referral to the Rapid Rehousing program and to facilitate payment of Jenny’s security deposit and first month’s rent. The program will also pay a portion of Jane’s second and third month’s rent as she continues on her path to stabilization and success.
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Thank You to ALL of our recent Donors who are helping us continue the great services at the FJC!
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100% of proceeds go towards services and resources for FJC clients.
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Like to shop? Click n Donate
Check out our Amazon wish lists
Click on one of the links below to check out our Amazon Wish lists.
All items listed, benefit FJC clients. Thank you.
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Need help? Visit the FJCSC during normal business hours (no appointment necessary) or call a 24/7 hotline below:
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24-Hour Crisis Lines
If you need to talk to someone immediately and confidentially, call one of these hotlines
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YWCA Domestic Violence Crisis Hotline:
707-546-1234
Verity Sexual Assault Support Line:
707-545-7273
National Domestic Violence Hotline
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1−800−799−7233
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Follow Us on Social Media!
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Follow us social media to get the latest updates, events, and ways that you can help us serve victims and survivors of family violence in Sonoma County!
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2755 Mendocino Avenue, Suite 100
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
(707) 565-8255
Monday - Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm
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