Loves Park Rotary welcomed Sierra Kellen, Family Justice Center Project Manager, as our guest speaker. The Family Peace Center is a multi-agency, multi-disciplinary co-located service center that will provide services to survivors of interpersonal violence including intimate partner violence, sexual assault, child abuse, elder or dependent adult abuse, and human trafficking. The Center was established in part through a federal grant applied for by the city of Rockford because they heard survivors say, in so many words, that they could survive difficult situations but not the administrative bureaucracy. Currently, Sierra is the only paid staffer but there are plans for additional hirings in the future and they are doing a great deal of training with volunteers. The plans also call for a large facility which will be partially funded through the federal grant. It has been documented that Family Justice Centers reduce homicides, increase survivor safety, help survivors in many ways and greatly increase community support for survivors and their children. Thank you, Sierra, for visiting us and helping us to understand more about this new and important service that will be available in our communities.
