New Rooms Provide Comfort for Victims of Abuse

Thanks to two generous donations, the Knoxville Family Justice Center has been able to expand not only its building, but the help it provides for victims of family violence.

January 19, 2011
By Allison Kropff

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - Thanks to two generous donations, the Knoxville Family Justice Center has been able to expand not only its building, but the help it provides for victims of abuse.

The donations allowed the center to renovate safe rooms and create an area for children. We were there for Wednesday's unveiling.

 "The Family Justice Center is all about making folks safe and making them have a future and hope," says Jo Terry, a community volunteer.

Now, thanks to $35,000 in donations, it's making abuse victims futures more comfortable and secure.

"We really want them to come in and have one place to sit down and relax. So they said lets create these really nice rooms," says Amy Dilworth, Executive Director of the Family Justice Center.

Wednesday, she gave a tour of the four new rooms.

"They sit in this nice confidential setting it's lamp lit, it's comfortable, it's not an office so they don't feel like they're being interrogated. They sit and talk about safety, talk about their danger level, which you don't always know how dangerous their situation is."

Along with a more pleasant environment, there is also a Play Therapy Room for children with therapeutic games and toys.

"It's comforting to a parent to know their child is being cared for while they are here. And it's very important for there to be privacy so their child is not hearing the story that the parent is sharing. The parent is freer to tell what's been going on," says Terry.

Since 2006, the center has been providing victims of abuse with resources to help them, now they can provide that assistance in a calm, relaxing environment.

"Having an atmosphere that is comfortable, that is welcoming, that's warm where you can feel secure and tell your story, is vital to making that first step in getting help," says Dilworth.

The Knoxville Academy of Medicine Alliance donated $15,000 and the Knoxville Police Department through the Bureau of Justice Assistance programs contributed an additional $20,000.

If you'd like information about the Knoxville Family Justice Center, click on the link below.

Knoxville Family Justice Center