FJC of Georgetown County is expanding services to Horry County and Andrews, SC
Counseling. Court advocacy. Emergency shelter. These are just three of the services which will be made accessible to Horry County and Andrews residents through the presence of Family Justice Center this fall.
Family Justice Center has been creating a better place for people and families in Georgetown County since 2007. A center for domestic abuse and violence services, it is run by collaborative individuals who have partnered with local groups like Access Health Georgetown, Rape Crisis Center, Waccamaw Center for Mental Health and the Georgetown Police Department to provide legal counsel, support groups, parenting classes and child care for area residents in need. When Family Justice Center served 60 victims of domestic abuse in June and more than 30 of them were residents of Horry County, they knew the organization was making the right move by expanding.
Thanks to a generous developer who donated office space to Family Justice Center, longtime Foundation grantee FJC has a new center at 1339 Apache Drive in the Monticello Apartment Complex in Horry County. The Center has also opened a Resale Boutique and Tea Room in Andrews, SC; providing a new entry point for people requiring domestic abuse services. Family Justice Center recently received funding from the Waccamaw Community Trust to build an on-site playground for children receiving counseling services or coming in with family members to participate in the center’s programs.
Services and programs offered through FJC include safety planning, emergency shelter, court advocacy, case management, counseling, support groups, parenting classes and child witness assessment. Many other services are available via the nonprofit’s partnerships with area nonprofit and government organizations.
According to Co-Executive Director, Beverly Kennedy, “FJC advocates lead clients through a full intake assessment accounting for their children and identifying primary concerns. From purchasing bus tickets to providing job referrals, food, clothing, shelter and medical support, Family Justice Center works with an empowerment model to help clients return to a safe, independent lifestyle.” Federal grant funding received when local emergency shelter CASA closed also means a new emergency shelter is on the horizon for FJC and Horry County.
Vicki Bourus, Co-Executive Director of the organization initially heard of WCF from a conversation with Sam Cook, former Board Member of the Frances P. Bunnelle Foundation. “As a nonprofit, we have a real deep appreciation for the local foundations, like Waccamaw… because there’s never enough money to do the work [of domestic violence].”
In addition to grants from Waccamaw Community Foundation and the Frances P. Bunnelle Foundation, program capacity and expansion into Horry County will be boosted in large part by upcoming events LUNAFEST and the Dickens Christmas Show Festival of Trees.
Grantee Family Justice Center is empowering victims of domestic violence and their families by expanding their services to Horry County and Andrews, SC. For more information on the Family Justice Center, please visit www.fjcgtownhorry.org. To learn how to get involved, contact Volunteer Coordinator Tamara Young at tyoung@fjcgtownhorry.org or (843) 546-3926.