The Union County Family Justice Center (FJC) is a joint collaborative of the County of Union, the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, and the YWCA Union County. The FJC opened its doors to the community in September 2017 and is located in the rear of the Family Courthouse at 10 Cherry Street, Elizabeth, NJ. Walk-ins are welcome.
Mission
Through this collaborative, the goal is to provide victims of domestic violence and their children with greater support and access to resources. The FJC makes the entire process of reporting and seeking services easier and less intimidating by co-locating essential services and removing barriers that are inherent in the current decentralized, silo system. The partnering professionals at the FJC work together to assist and support victims of domestic violence with services in order to increase safety, increase reporting and arrests and ultimately, reduce domestic violence incidents and homicides within Union County.
Community Partners
In one location, a victim of domestic violence can receive services including legal advice and representation, counseling and case management, direct advocacy, relocation/shelter services, assistance from law enforcement and the prosecutor’s office, and assistance from social service agencies.
Our current on site partners include: Union County Prosecutor’s Office, Office of Victim Witness Advocacy, Union County Sheriff’s, the YWCA Union County counseling staff, Partners for Women and Justice, Central Jersey Legal Services, and PROCEED, Inc.
Off-site affiliates also include: Trinitas Regional Medical Center, Homefirst Interfaith Housing and Family Services, Community Coordinated Child Care of Union County, American Friends Service Committee, Legal Services of New Jersey, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice, New Jersey Crime Victim’s Law Center, and others.
What to Expect
A victim and her children are welcomed by Bilingual (English-Spanish) staff in a safe, warm, and friendly environment and are treated with the utmost dignity and respect. A caring staff member will listen in a non-judgmental manner, share the available resources, and serve as a support during time of crisis. She will be introduced to partners in the community who are equally as invested in supporting the victim and her family’s safety and well-being.