Stories of Impact

Journey Center for Safety and Healing

PROVIDING A VOICE FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE & CHILD ABUSE

Justice System Advocacy

The morning routine is typically a time when everyone scurries to get out of the house and on with their day but for many others, it represents what will soon be a temporary respite from an abuser and a critical window of time to solicit needed counsel and support. Domestic violence and child abuse are occurring in epidemic proportions in our communities today and affects people of all socioeconomic classes, ages, genders, races, religions and ethnicities. In the U.S., a report of child abuse is made every ten seconds and one in three women and one in four men have been victims of some form of violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime. Abusive environments directly impact health and well-being, with victims at a higher risk for developing chronic conditions, substance abuse addictions and mental health conditions. For individuals and families experiencing this physical and emotional danger, knowing they have an engaged support system and a network of integrated services to rely on can be life-altering and in some cases, lifesaving.

Reaching nearly 20,000 individuals each year across Cuyahoga County, Journey Center for Safety and Healing (“Journey”) provides services that foster safety and healing to those affected by domestic violence and child abuse. It is the only organization whose mission specifically addresses family violence – considering both the needs of victims and children, as well as adopting approaches aimed to strengthen family bonds, establish a path to wellness and where possible, break cycles of abuse through multi-generational family intervention. Over the past forty-five years Journey has been unwavering in its commitment to assisting victims and initiating prevention efforts through education, advocacy and systemic change.

Along with its 24-hour helpline that fields thousands of calls each year, Journey is hailed for its confidential emergency shelter that gives safe refuge to approximately 350 individuals and families annually who experience imminent danger from domestic violence and abuse. Tailored to address the unique situations of each victim, Journey’s well-established infrastructure also includes the Safe & Sound Supervised Visitation Center where delicate custodial and nonresidential interactions are managed within a secure and positive environment; Trauma Therapy Services to help reduce the impact of past or present trauma on emotional and mental functioning and introduce healthy coping skills; and facilitated Domestic Violence support groups, classes and ongoing community engagement efforts.  

When an abusive situation escalates Journey’s most vital program – Justice System Advocacy – will aid victims with immediate crisis intervention, access to crucial information and emotional support needed to navigate the legal system. Currently serving eleven courts across 43 municipalities, each community-based Justice System Advocate (JSA) leverages its strong presence and deep relationships with law enforcement, as well as attorneys and judges to understand specific situations and accompany victims throughout all aspects of the court process including prosecution interviews, court proceedings and understanding their rights - to the careful handling of delicate situations involving children and minimizing contact with a suspect - to securing benefits for housing, food and utilities and safety planning. “The advocate’s role is to be alongside the victim offering support, establishing trust and building confidence that their voice will be heard,” states Melissa Graves, Journey CEO. “Right from the start the advocate works towards empowering clients to achieve resiliency, recovery and improved circumstances – that’s our primary goal.” The Justice System Advocacy program is currently the only agency providing victim-centered support in the Westshore communities of Cuyahoga County with all services free to victims/survivors of dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking.

The devastating consequences of domestic violence can result in physical injury, psychological trauma, and even death. By connecting with victims at the onset of a reported incident, clients are better able to execute a safety plan and initiate action to end the abusive situation. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for victims to refuse help due to fear or hopefulness, denial, slow court decisions and other factors. “We believe we can help a client wherever they are in the process and need to remain flexible regardless of their decision,” adds Graves. “Our focus shifts on ways the client can stay safe and to maintain open lines of communication knowing it can take an average of seven attempts before a victim finally leaves an abusive situation for good.”

Over the past year, nonprofit organizations across the country experienced challenges with cuts to private and public sector funding, in addition to increased costs arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. For Journey, this included extreme cuts to the funding pipeline from the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) thereby forcing the elimination of its Justice System Advocate in the Rocky River Municipal Court after twenty one years. Realizing the significant pandemic-driven increase in domestic violence cases they were seeing with no one present in the court for victims, Judge Donna Congeni Fitzsimmons and her team proactively reached out to find an outside funding source to sustain this crucial position. Shortly thereafter, through the power of community and collaboration, Community West Foundation and Three Arches Foundation provided joint emergency funding to fill the gap allowing Journey to reinstate the advocate position. Having funded the Justice System Advocate within the Lakewood Municipal Courts over the past two years with a grant, Three Arches Foundation was intimately familiar with the need for and impact of the advocate.

And the timing couldn’t come soon enough. While Journey’s 75 caring team members assess each situation and try to see clients as soon as possible, there is consistently a wait list with therapy requests alone increasing by 80%. “The COVID-19 pandemic added another level of anxiety and danger to an already difficult situation making it much harder for victims to get help,” comments Graves. “It was alarming to witness the sudden drop in call volume at the onset of the shelter-in-place order. Victims who might normally reach out for support when the abuser left the home were now calling during the overnight hours in hushed tones from closets or enduring an unexpected period of isolation with their abuser.”

Because victims of abuse are often reluctant to seek out help or in denial about the situation, Journey continues to rely on community-based locations to provide resources and teach about healthy relationships via various victim touchpoints such as churches, youth groups, bilingual resources, schools and other affiliations. Part of Journey’s ongoing prevention efforts includes a pilot program with the City of Cleveland Police Department and suburban communities to assess the risk of lethality in domestic violence situations to prevent homicide. “The danger assessment is a game changer when it comes to building trust and identifying patterns of abuse,” states Shelly Dudas, Chief Advocacy & Inclusion Officer. “Two of the highest risk factors indicating that a situation will lead to homicide are a firearm in the home and strangulation.”   

Journey continues to take proactive steps to remove barriers that limit access to clients, especially those within various cultural and underserved populations. Even with ongoing efforts to empower individuals, educate the community and advocate for justice to end domestic violence and child abuse the work is never done. According to The National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma & Mental Health, the impact of domestic abuse is strongly correlated with diminished psychological and physical health, quality of life as well as educational and economic productivity. “The physical and mental well-being of individuals and families impacted by abuse is always front and center,” adds Dudas. “Although difficult to measure the impact of our programs and services, the ultimate outcome is that our clients feel safe and hopeful, and we helped break a cycle of violence.” 

Published May 2021