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Family justice center opens for domestic violence survivors
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and Tuesday, Chicago opened its first family justice center.
CHICAGO - October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and Tuesday, Chicago opened its first family justice center.
What we know:
The CAN Hope Center, located in the Illinois Medical District, will serve as a central hub focused on the needs of survivors.
Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke joined advocates to cut the ribbon on the new facility, which aims to bring together multiple resources under one roof.
By the numbers:
According to the state’s domestic violence hotline, calls rose 26% last year.
What they're saying:
Advocates say this new center will help survivors of all forms of abuse seek justice and find support.
Colleen Montgomery, Program Director for CAN Hope, said the center’s creation marks a major step toward a coordinated response for survivors.
"We have built Chicago's first family justice center," Montgomery said. "But more than that, we have built a new pathway where survivors can visit just one place, tell their story just one time, and be met by a community of people who say, 'I'm here with you. I believe you, and you are not alone.'"
"Family justice centers like CAN Hope strengthen the relationship between survivors and law enforcement and improve victim participation and engagement with prosecutors," Burke said.
Dig deeper:
Burke’s office has made combating domestic violence a top priority.
According to a Chicago Tribune analysis, offenders charged with domestic violence are being held at an 81% higher rate than the year before she took office.