Yolo to Centralize Victims' Help

February 17, 2011
By Cathy Locke
The Sacramento Bee

For victims traumatized by sexual abuse or domestic violence, having to go to as many as 16 different locations to find all the help they need may be almost as unbearable as the situation they're trying to overcome.

That's the case in Yolo County and the impetus behind an effort that will be launched this week to create Family Justice Centers offering a variety of legal and social services under one roof.

Yolo County is looking to join a national movement, begun by the city of San Diego in 2002, to bring government and nonprofit agencies together to serve victims through one-stop shops.

Proponents of the project include District Attorney Jeff Reisig and county Supervisor Jim Provenza.

Making sure that a crime victim's needs are met can be key to successful prosecution of the case, said Gina Daleiden, who is Provenza's deputy and a member of the group developing a plan for centers in Woodland and West Sacramento.

A mother trying to protect herself and her children in a domestic violence situation, for example, may have difficulty going to court if she can't find child care.

As envisioned, Daleiden said, the centers would offer a variety of assistance, including help navigating the justice system, counseling, child care and job training.

Yolo would be the first county in the Sacramento region to establish a Family Justice Center. Jean Jordan, an attorney with the California District Attorneys Association and a member of the Yolo steering committee, said the concept is gaining popularity in the United States and abroad. About 60 centers are operating nationally.

As government and nonprofit groups grapple with tight budgets, the goal is not to create a new service agency but to combine the resources of existing organizations. Resistance to collaboration sometimes is encountered among nonprofit organizations competing for the same funding sources, with smaller groups fearing they'll lose out, Jordan said.

"But we hope this will open up funding opportunities and make the pie bigger for small nonprofits," she said, noting that grant programs often favor collaborative efforts.

Existing agencies typically assign staff members to the center. Daleiden said the only additional employee anticipated is a center coordinator, which would be a grant-funded position.

The Department of Justice as well as a number of corporations, including health insurance companies and financial institutions, offer grants for Family Justice Centers, Jordan said.