Family Justice Center to Give Full Services to Abused Victims
January 19, 2012

MERIDIAN —     Casey Gwinn said the idea of a Family Justice Center is a simple one.

Gwinn said a centralized place where victims of domestic violence, child abuse and other crimes can come and get any type of care, advice and treatment is a simple concept. Getting everyone from a wide assortment of agencies to cooperate with each other is not.

Gwinn, the co-founder and president of the Family Justice Center Alliance from San Diego, California, was on hand Wednesday with Phil Eastman, one of the strategic planners with the FJC at the Wesley House Community Center in Meridian. Gwinn, and specifically Eastman, were taking two days to get the many agencies of the Family Justice Center in Meridian off on the right footing.

Wednesday was the second day in which ideas and concepts were shared pertaining to the unique needs of the Meridian, Lauderdale County and East Mississippi areas. Gwinn said each location is special in its own way. No two locations of Family Justice Centers, of which there are 80 across the nation, share all of the same problems. Nor do they have the same support structures. That is why Gwinn and Eastman spend time at each location to help the agencies and their representatives to first discuss their specific needs and to custom groom a strategy for getting the job accomplished.

"Both Phil and Casey have done a tremendous job in leading us with their experience in this," said Ginger Stevens, executive director of the Wesley House. "We already offered some services here but with this alliance we can do so much more for the victims."

Gwinn said this center in Meridian, the first in the state, is already off to a great start with the endorsements and participation of the mayor's office, the chief of police, the district attorney's office and the state attorney general's office. He said he is excited to see such support in Meridian.

"I've been very impressed," Gwinn said.

If victims need medical care they can receive it there. If they need to talk to a policeman or detective they will be able to do that as well. Even getting legal counsel will be available. All of this is to get the quickest, best care to the victim as soon as possible.

Ultimately, Gwinn would like to see the full integration of the Wesley House services with those of the Family Justice Center. If that is done successfully, then victims can come to one location and have access to virtually anything they need in order to address their problem.