Page 10 - Delaware Lawyer - Spring 2023

FEATURE | A DELAWARE FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER
important in determining whether more ambivalent survivors will reach out for assistance. One FJC8 found that its existence positively affects survivors in the area of resource and service coordination, and that there is a potential to increase the level of partnerships in the community. These partnerships additionally can work to provide new resources to victims as needs emerge, providing stronger community support and reactions to the needs of its citizens.
While the FJC evidence-based re- search is scarce, there are clear positive impacts that have been observed from the existing FJCs. Some of the im- portant resources within FJCs include legal assistance, counseling for families and victims, on-site childcare services, domestic violence court and resource advocates, and access to court and crim- inal case services. For a victim who is
attempting to stop the violence in their family or leave their relationship, having a collaborative response is criti- cal to ensure that the abuser is held accountable. It also helps ensure that the victim receives trauma-informed justice and the resources needed to continue along a path of safety for them and their children.
Delaware’s FJC Initiative
Given the potential of an FJC to have a vastly positive impact on a com- munity and on victims of domestic violence, Delaware committed in 2022 to implementing its own FJC.9
While it may be a while before Delaware sees this type of center im- plemented, the Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence is well on its way to establishing community and state partnerships and creating workgroups to assess Delaware’s
current population needs. Several workgroups are meeting regularly to establish the feasibility of having an FJC, and what this would look like for the community and for domestic violence victims.
One of Delaware’s greatest strengths is the collaboration that many of our agencies and organi- zations already engage in — a list of all of the current collaborators invested in this project can be found on the Delaware Coalition’s website.10 Delaware has a committed list of agencies, both state and community, that are interested in seeing this proj- ect succeed. FJCs have been growing in number over the past 10 years, and it is the hope that Delaware’s FJC can increase existing collaboration and strengthen the services provid- ed to domestic violence victims and their families.
8 DELAWARE LAWYER SPRING 2023