PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — It’s been one year since CASA opened its Family Justice Center in Pinellas County.

CASA, or Community Action Stops Abuse, supports and empowers domestic violence survivors. Leaders of the organization say this revolutionary one-stop approach to standing up to silence is having a significant impact.

“Last year, before we co-partnered and opened the Family Justice Center, we served about 1200 people through our outreach services,” said Lariana Forsythe, CEO of CASA. “This year, we more than doubled that and served more than 2800 people. One day, we literally had 70 survivors walk through our door.”

Forsythe says the Family Justice Center eliminates the need for survivors to travel to multiple spots for a variety of services, meaning they must retell their stories at every stop.

The Family Justice Center offers support under one roof. Survivors work with one case manager to select the services they need.

(Spectrum News/Melissa Eichman)

“We have the police that are available to take police reports, we have the state’s attorneys that can talk to folks about if they want to prosecute, we have mental health support, we have additional attorneys that can provide housing and family law services,” said Forsythe.

Senior Director of Program Services Gabriela Holton has also worked as a case manager and stresses the importance of the youth center incorporated into the new Family Justice Center.

“It gives the opportunity for the survivor to really open up with that case manager without necessarily having to hold certain things back just because their child is present,” said Holton, who has seen the difference the center has made in its first year.

“I can see the huge impact that it’s having and being able to serve more than double the survivors speaks volumes.”

Forsythe says the center will continue to support more survivors as they find their path to safety and happiness.

Speaking from personal experience, Forsythe says domestic violence survivors often don’t know where to turn, and the Family Justice Center is standing up to silence by providing support services and guidance in one location.

Donations to CASA will be doubled as part of Giving Tuesday. Supporters Melody and Gary Johnson will match donations up to $100,000. Visit CASA's website if you’d like to contribute to the organization and the services it provides.