EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

'When I hear One Safe Place, I say 'Here I Come."

SURVIVOR

Our team at Alliance for HOPE International has been honored to work with you since March 2021 to support your vision for developing a Family Justice Center in Macon-Bibb. Congratulations for being awarded one of only three grants by the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council from the State of Georgia in November 2020 to open a Family Justice Center. It is an exciting time in history to see the Georgia Statewide Family Justice Center Initiative include your community to lead the state. In our first visit in June 2021, Raeanne Passantino, our Director of Technical Assistance for the FJCA, Michelle Morgan, Vice President and Director of One Safe Place in Fort Worth, Texas, Dr. Denise McCain, Executive Director of the Prince George’s Family Justice Center in Upper Marlboro, MD and Maryann Postiglione, FJCA Program Assistant, conducted a two-day study tour, made twenty-three recommendations and concluded your community was engaged and ready to conduct a Strategic Visioning event in January 2022 with our President Casey Gwinn and CEO Gael Strack.

In our second visit in January 2022, we witnessed the dynamic leadership of your local elected officials, community leaders and core partners. We also saw the investment of Crisis Line & Safe House of Central Georgia, the passion of Sarah Schanck and the leadership of the entire Family Justice Center Steering Committee. Our hearts were deeply touched by the level of collaboration and coordination already developed in Macon-Bibb County. We were also able to participate in the unveiling of your new name – One Safe Place Macon, your new logo, the announcement of the beginning of Camp HOPE America in the state of Georgia, and the promotional video about your Center. The vision that emerged over our two days together only reinforced our finding that you are poised and ready to change the paradigm for offering hope and healing to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, elder abuse and human trafficking in Macon-Bibb, Georgia. Your vision is worthy of affection from every citizen and has the potential to set a standard for cities across the state.

Congratulations! Your dreams are BIG and your vision is achievable as you all lean in and work together for survivors and their children. In the words of Dee Simms, “Welcome to the next generation of victim services in Georgia.”

We submit your Strategic Visioning Report to support your efforts to make your vision a reality.