Cobb DA Dedicates Building for Cobb Family Advocacy Center
Cobb District Attorney Flynn D. Broady, Jr. announces the first Georgia Family Advocacy Center groundbreaking. Modeled after similar Family Justice Centers around the country, the Family Advocacy Center (FAC) will provide much-needed services to members of our community. Family Justice Centers are multi-agency, multi-disciplinary, co-located centers that provide services to domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse victims. The Family Justice Center model convenes existing public and private agencies that co-locate staff in one centralized location where victims of crimes and their families can receive various services. This model is identified as a best practice in domestic violence intervention. It has been proven to reduce homicides, increase victim safety, provide empowerment and reduce fear and anxiety for victims and their children.
The creation of the Family Advocacy Center was made possible due to the collaboration of community partners, including the Cobb County Board of Commissioners, County Manager Dr. McMorris, LiveSafe Resources, Safepath Children’s Advocacy Center, the Cobb County Police and Sheriff’s Department, the Cobb Solicitor’s Office, Public Safety Director Randy Crider, Legal Aid of Atlanta, and many more community service agencies. The Family Advocacy Center will provide victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, as well as elder abuse and human trafficking victims, a centralized, safe location to meet with law enforcement officers, receive assistance in obtaining Temporary Protective Orders, as well as receive services such as counseling, housing, and employment assistance. Providing these already-established services in one location will significantly reduce the trauma and emotional harm suffered by the victims of these crimes and their families.
Funding for the FAC was made possible through grants from the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) and the Victims of Crimes Act (VOCA). The establishment of the Family Advocacy Center was a long-term vision of the District Attorney’s Office over the past two years. This day would not have been possible without the collaboration and teamwork of the FAC partners. District Attorney Flynn D. Broady, Jr. is grateful for the dedication and hard work these partners have provided to his office and the community. Without their help, the establishment of the FAC could not have occurred. District Attorney Broady states, “The strength of our community is reflected in how we serve our most vulnerable citizens. This collaboration demonstrates that our community partners are dedicated to making Cobb the best place to live, work and play for all our citizens. The Family Advocacy Center will help that be a reality for all, protecting victims of crime, healing families, and making Cobb County safer for all.” The FAC is expected to become fully operational shortly after the first of the year, and program services will begin in the spring of 2023.
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