Waycross center helps violence survivors access services in southeast Georgia

An organization in rural, southeast Georgia is working to bridge the gap between service providers for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse.

The Waycross Family Justice Center opened in August 2024 and has helped 260 victims so far. The center works with partners, such as the Department of Family and Children Services and Georgia Legal Services, to provide those in need with help. It also has a 15-passenger van to provide transportation in a region without public transportation.

Heather Flowers works as a navigator at the center and is a survivor herself. She said there are several misconceptions about those who experience violence.

“People feel like it may be marginalized families, it may be the lower-income family, it may be different areas, but it’s not,” Flowers said. “Violence is not prejudiced. And so what we want people to know is that this center, there’s no judgment at this center. This center is for everyone.”

Gov. Brian Kemp recently signed the Family Justice Center Act, which creates statewide standards for centers like the Waycross Family Justice Center. The law will also open up resources and funding for the centers.

Flowers said this type of support was unavailable when she was experiencing violence.

“When I was going through my own time of challenges, the resources was not there. The opportunities were not there,” she said. “What we have seen in putting all of these resources in one location is that you have more people that will come forward and seek out the help.”

Flowers said the goal of the center is to show people that there is a safe place they can go for help, and the new law is expected to encourage more centers to open across the state.