First-in-the-nation Family Justice Center coming to Sussex County

Georgetown, Del. – On Wednesday, Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Delaware) was joined by state and local partners to highlight the $2.6 million in federal funds going towards a first-of-its-kind Family Justice Center.

“We are now able to move forward to turn the idea of family justice centers into a reality, so that survivors, in those moments of crisis, are able to go to one place to get the services and the care that they need to get back on their feet and to thrive,” McBride said in an interview with WMDT.

Officials say the center uses a coordinated, survivor-centered model that brings legal assistance, counseling, law enforcement support, and advocacy services under one roof, reducing barriers for survivors of domestic violence and related crimes seeking help.

“I just think about this from the eyes of a survivor and coming here and the hope — these are centers of hope,” State Rep. Krista Griffth (D-District 12) said. “And that is what we are giving to Delaware today.”

Delaware State Police Colonel William Crotty said having a multidisciplinary approaches to treating survivors under a “one-stop shop” at a centralized location in Sussex County was extremely beneficial.

“We’re neighbors, so we’re super pleased that we’re going to be literally almost a near shot of each other,” he said. “That we have victims in our need of a justice center that we can transport them over here and start the process of early healing.”

Officials did not give a definitive timeline on when the project will be completed, they said they will be able to wrap up plans this summer.