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1213spotlightnjtwo_2025-12-13-09-32-05

So FTC was established um in 2010 and the reason behind that was basically because it was in response to high homicide rates in Essex County um we partnered with some key primary organizations and um as a result of that we created amazing partnerships that would help in in the context of working to. Prevent homicide but more than that assist victims and survivors so that they know that this is not that they're not alone but more than that is also that this is a one stop shop and they don't have to go from place to place to place to be able to um. Services that with collaboration they can access services through the different partnerships that the FJC has created. Why was that so important for the Essex County Family Justice Center to be a one stop center for people? Well, with domestic violence in particular. Um, it's, you know, when you think about a survivor and it's not just so much more about, OK, I've been physically assaulted and I need to get legal services, there's so many aspects of a survivor's life that gets impacted, for example, the housing matter or um divorce or for example, counseling. Mental health being able to create a space for someone to come in and know that they're supported by all these different aspects it's like so having that the survivor feels supported and I and I think it's so important for um people to understand especially somebody who wants to come out for the first time um and talk about what has happened to them which is so private. Um, knowing that they're not gonna be alone and they, there's a group of like there's an army behind them, right army, just somebody there to support, and I don't know if you wanna add to this to you because you are the champion of domestic violence, yeah, speak. Well, I used to, um, well, I became involved with the Essex County Family Justice Center back in 2015 because I'm a domestic violence survivor myself, and when I first came in. Doors, everybody was welcoming. I had the support. I didn't have to go from one place to the next place. If I needed a police report, the police station was there. If I needed to speak to the prosecutors, the prosecutor was there. Um, there were therapy sessions, um, and we all became family. So after I went through my situation, I continued to help other people. So to get to the point of me being a conqueror, when we came up with the. Idea of having our 50th Avenue celebration, Beth and the board of trustees, which I'm on, said we want to, um, acknowledge somebody that's a domestic violence survivor. I said, oh, that's a great idea. So who are we gonna pick? They said, Takesha, we wanna pick you. And I was just honored because I didn't think they were even thinking of me. I'm out here trying to find somebody else to honor and they said, Takesha, we want you to be our domestic violence conqueror and I'm really grateful for that to be able to tell my story, not to be ashamed of my story, to let other victims know that there is help, that people really do and generally care.

https://vod.prod.alticeustech.com/transcode/5227c3be-6462-4ae8-a791-34cc86436233/5227c3be-6462-4ae8-a791-34cc86436233.transcribe

1213SPOTLIGHTNJ3_2025-12-13-12-34-16

The Essex County Family Justice Center is celebrating 15 years. We have 4 ladies here today talking about their mission and what they do. Tykesha James, Board of trustees and champion of domestic violence. Angelli Mani, program director. Doctor Elizabeth Guerrero, Beth, interim executive. Director Danielle Francois with outreach training and engagement manager, let's talk about that. What you do in terms of the outreach and training. Yeah, so, um, a lot of my trainings are offered, uh, to individuals or groups or organizations, uh, usually also professionals who really want to get a sense of what domestic violence is. It's like a domestic violence 101, right? A lot of folks wanna know about what it looks like, um, what are some of the experiences that a survivor can be going through and also how they can support them um, a lot of audience members or a lot of participants wanna know, you know, if I know somebody who has gone through it, right, or if a friend or family member discloses to me what are some of the steps that I can take to support them. Um, and I also train a lot of professionals who want to build their capacity to support survivors of domestic violence because it happens all over. Chances are we probably know somebody and maybe they didn't disclose to us yet and so they want to know how they can screen if they're doctors. They want to know how they can provide trauma informed care within their practice, whether it's, you know, a social worker, a therapist or a lawyer, right? Like it doesn't really matter um. And so I provide these these trainings virtually in person. It doesn't matter. I joke around saying that I will talk to domestic uh talk about domestic violence to anyone who wants to know about it. Um, how do you get people to open up when they come through that door? I know because they've taken that first step they're ready to talk, but how do you get them to feel comfortable to share what they need to? I always say that the first thing that you can do if somebody does disclose to you is believe them because oftentimes just because they're disclosing to you at that moment or you know if you're a police officer right and you're responding to a call and it's obvious that there's domestic violence going on it's probably not the first time that it's happened in the relationship, right? And so it takes a lot of courage and a lot of strength to tell somebody that you're going through this um. They need to be believed because if they don't, if they're not believed then they're less likely to reach out again and get further help so always believe them um and ask them what they want to do next, right? It's up to them to decide what the next steps are and what. The best resources are for them, so as an advocate or as a provider or somebody that you know and love is going through this, always believe them, convey empathy, and then ask them what they need next, um, you know, and you can also educate yourself on the resources so that you can better assist.

https://vod.prod.alticeustech.com/transcode/208ac315-47fa-4d44-8554-2012fe2b6edb/208ac315-47fa-4d44-8554-2012fe2b6edb.transcribe

Essex County Family Justice Center is a domestic abuse treatment facility based in Newark. 

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