Essex County Family Justice Center

Victims of domestic violence often have multiple urgent needs – which could include immediate needs for medical assessment and treatment, emergency housing, legal aid, and more. The need for therapy and counseling to address the traumatic impact of domestic violence is just as crucial.

To help fill this need for victims of domestic violence in greater Newark, HFNJ provided a $118,232 grant to the Essex County Family Justice Center in the first quarter of 2023.

During the first six months of the project period, the Center provided comprehensive, trauma-informed crisis intervention and case management-style services for 411 victims of domestic violence assault, including 160 new victims whose service began this report period. Each victim was processed through Intake and received safety planning, civil legal advocacy and assistance, emergency housing services, immediate emergency aid, group and individual counseling sessions, law enforcement and prosecution connections, referrals to healthcare providers, and more, as needed.

99 of these victims expressed medical-behavioral concerns related to their domestic violence assault and were connected to ECFJC’s Health Navigator, who performed a Medical-Behavioral Health Assessment. 24 clients began individual therapy with the project’s therapist through Sanar Health for long-term counseling.