TITLE
Title
BUDGET AMENDMENT: FY26-28 FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER ENHANCED COORDINATION GRANT
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SPONSOR
Sponsor
Sonya Desai
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BACKGROUND
Background
This award from the North Carolina Governor's Crime Commission provides partial funding to support one (1) existing full-time staff position with the Family Justice Center department: Elder Justice Specialist Coordinator.
The Family Justice Center was initially awarded funding from the North Carolina Governor’s Crime Commission (NCGCC) in 2018. Renewal applications can be requested bi-annually. This renewal application was our fourth request. Historically, this grant has awarded partial funding to support both the Elder Justice Specialist Coordinator and Child Trauma Specialist Coordinator positions. Due to cuts in federal funding to the NCGCC,the grant amount was reduced. Additionally, children are no longer a qualifying underserved population based on the grant guidelines. This has disqualified our Child Trauma Specialist Coordinator from the grant. Based on this development, the Family Justice Center is requesting to move the Child Trauma Specialist Coordinator position from the Grants Fund to the General Fund and decrease the General Fund transfer to the project.
Guilford opened its first Family Justice Center in Greensboro in 2015 and due to demand, opened a second location in High Point in 2018. FJC transformed victim services. From one location, 17 agencies and over 150 professionals work together to provide streamlined and comprehensive services. Since opening, FJC has served over 100,000 victims, including 10,614 older adults. The service demand has increased by 163% since our opening in 2015.
Since COVID, reports of elder abuse continue to flood law enforcement and DHHS. The DV homicide rate in Guilford has risen over the last two (2) years, and the need for safety nets for older adults is more imperative than ever. Also, the high staff turnover amongst helpers in advoca...
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