GRACE is helping to provide a safe place for victims of domestic violence with the opening of a full-time family justice center in Grapevine.
One Safe Place is a Fort Worth nonprofit organization that aims to prevent crime and violence in neighborhoods, schools and homes, according to a media release. As part of that initiative, One Safe Place operates family justice centers, which provides danger assessments and safety planning to victims of domestic violence, including women and children.
“We have had an ongoing relationship with One Safe Place for the last four years,” GRACE chief program officer Stacy Pacholick says. “They are a one-stop-shop for people that are experiencing domestic violence.”
Initially, One Safe Place operated one center in Fort Worth and an auxiliary office out at GRACE in Grapevine 1-5 p.m. on Wednesdays. But recently, it expanded into a full-time center that will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, the first time the organization has done so for a satellite location.
Stacy says the expansion was made for several reasons, one of which was for the victim’s safety. With the formerly limited availability, Stacy says victims could be in danger by being gone for long periods of time transitioning between the center and its partner agencies. But by partnering with GRACE full time, it allows them to get the resources and consultation they need in a shorter, more convenient time span.
It also expands the center's service capabilities, thanks to GRACE's food pantry, community medical clinic and transitional housing.
“We’re not giving them an address that is 30-40 minutes away,” Stacy says. “We are walking them down the hallway and introducing them face-to-face with a person that we know is going to be able to help them. We are thrilled to have them here and we think it’s a huge asset for Tarrant County to have those services right here in our backyard.”
The family justice center is located at 837 E. Walnut St. To learn more about One Safe Place and GRACE, go online at OneSafePlace.org or GRACE.org.