For survivors of domestic violence and other violent crimes, finding help can often feel overwhelming—especially when support services are scattered across multiple locations. Ventura County leaders are working to change that with the creation of the East County Family Justice Center, a new resource designed to bring critical services together under one roof for residents of Thousand Oaks, Camarillo, Moorpark and Simi Valley.
Supervisor Jeff Gorell, Chair of the Ventura County Board of Supervisors, has been a strong advocate for establishing the center in East County.
“I have been advocating for the creation of an East County Family Justice Center so survivors of domestic violence and other violent crimes can access help closer to home,” he says. “This effort reflects our Board’s commitment to making sure families in East County are not left without the support, safety and coordinated services they need during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.”
Supervisor Gorell’s Personal Connection
Supervisor Gorell’s commitment to the Family Justice Center model is deeply personal and informed by his professional experience. As a former Ventura County prosecutor, he saw firsthand the devastating impact domestic violence can have on individuals, families and communities. Prosecuting these cases reinforced for him how difficult it can be for survivors to navigate the legal system and access the support they need.
Later, while serving as Deputy Mayor of Los Angeles, he had the opportunity to tour a Family Justice Center and see the model in action. The experience left a lasting impression. By bringing legal assistance, counseling, advocacy and other services together in one place, Family Justice Centers help survivors access support more easily and create a coordinated response that can break cycles of violence that often persist across generations.
After witnessing the effectiveness of this approach, he worked with the Mayor to expand the model in Los Angeles, helping establish additional Family Justice Centers so that more survivors could access comprehensive support services.
That experience continues to shape his work today. He has been a strong advocate for expanding the Family Justice Center model locally so that survivors in East Ventura County have a safe, accessible place to receive the help they need to rebuild their lives.
The East County Family Justice Center will follow a nationally recognized model designed to reduce the barriers survivors often face when seeking help. Instead of navigating multiple agencies across different locations, survivors will be able to access coordinated services in one safe and welcoming place.
“The core mission of the East County Family Justice Center is to bring critical services together in one safe, welcoming place so survivors do not have to navigate trauma alone or travel from office to office to get help,” Jeff explains. “The Family Justice Center model supports people impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, elder abuse, human trafficking, hate crimes and other violent crimes through coordinated, trauma-informed care that helps reduce repeat victimization and creates a path toward safety, healing and long-term stability.”
Filling a Critical Gap
While Family Justice Centers exist in Ventura and Oxnard, East County residents have long faced significant geographic barriers when trying to access services. Thousand Oaks was selected as the site for the new center.
“Thousand Oaks was selected because it is centrally located in East County, has strong local support including financial support from the City, and can help close a real geographic and access gap for survivors,” Jeff notes.
“Ventura County currently has Family Justice Centers in Ventura and Oxnard, but there has not been a center serving East County residents. For many families, accessing services can require a long round trip and significant barriers related to transportation, time, childcare or work. Bringing a center to Thousand Oaks will allow survivors in communities such as Thousand Oaks, Camarillo, Moorpark and Simi Valley to access help more quickly and with fewer obstacles.”
Comprehensive Support in One Place
The center will offer a wide range of services through partnerships with law enforcement agencies, county departments, legal aid organizations and nonprofit providers. The goal is to ensure survivors receive coordinated assistance without having to retell their story multiple times or navigate complicated systems alone.
“The East County center will follow the comprehensive Family Justice Center model already working successfully in Ventura County,” Jeff explains. “Survivors will be able to access services such as safety planning, emergency assistance, transportation support, protective order assistance, shelter and housing referrals, civil legal services, counseling and mental health support, grief support, career guidance, financial counseling, education pathways, child development support and survivor advocacy. The strength of the model is that people can receive coordinated support in one place instead of having to navigate multiple agencies on their own.”
The center will rely on collaboration among multiple agencies and community organizations.
“The Family Justice Center model relies on strong partnerships among law enforcement, the District Attorney’s Office, the Health Care Agency, Human Services, the courts, legal aid organizations and many nonprofit service providers,” Jeff adds. “Community organizations play a vital role in providing counseling, advocacy, shelter services and long-term support for families. In East County, we are working closely with local leaders, law enforcement and community-based organizations to ensure the center reflects the needs of the communities it will serve.”
A Survivor-Centered Approach
A key part of the Family Justice Center model is creating an environment where survivors feel safe, respected and in control of their decisions.
“The Family Justice Center model is intentionally designed to be survivor-centered and trauma-informed,” Jeff emphasizes. “It provides a safe and welcoming environment where individuals can receive support without having to retell their story repeatedly to multiple agencies. The approach focuses on listening, respecting the survivor’s choices and helping them move forward at their own pace. Survivors are supported by professionals and advocates who work together to ensure they feel believed, respected and empowered throughout the process.”
Jeff notes that the difference such a center can make for families in crisis can be profound.
“Imagine a mother living in East County who is experiencing domestic violence and has children at home,” he says. “She may feel isolated, afraid to seek help and unsure where to begin. In the past, she might have had to travel long distances and contact multiple agencies just to start getting support. With a Family Justice Center nearby, she could access safety planning, legal assistance, counseling and help for her children in one place. That early, coordinated support can make a tremendous difference in helping someone move from crisis to safety and stability.”
Building Awareness and Community Support
Beyond providing services, the center will also focus on prevention and community education.
“In addition to supporting survivors, the center will focus on community education and outreach,” Jeff explains. “That includes working with schools, community organizations, healthcare providers and local leaders to raise awareness about domestic violence and available resources. Plans also include exploring outreach tools such as mobile services and community engagement initiatives that can help connect families to support earlier and reduce barriers to seeking help.”
The center’s first year will focus on establishing a strong foundation and building trust within the community.
“In its first year, the goal is to establish a trusted local resource where survivors can quickly access coordinated services,” Jeff says. “We want to reduce the barriers that East County residents currently face when seeking help, strengthen partnerships among service providers and ensure that survivors are connected to the support they need as early as possible. Building trust and awareness within the community will be a key priority.”
While the Thousand Oaks location is currently being finalized, residents seeking assistance can still contact the Ventura County Family Justice Center during regular business hours by phone at 805.652.7655 or by text at 805.947.7981. After hours, 2-1-1 Ventura County can help connect individuals with resources, and anyone in immediate danger should call 9-1-1.
For Jeff, the vision behind the center is simple but powerful.
“The hope is that no survivor in East County feels isolated or forced to navigate trauma alone,” he reflects. “By bringing services together in one place, the Family Justice Center can help break cycles of violence, support healing for individuals and families and strengthen the overall safety of our community. Ultimately, this effort is about providing a lifeline and ensuring that every person who needs help knows there is a place they can turn to for support, safety and hope.”
"The strength of the model is that people can receive coordinated support in one place instead of having to navigate multiple agencies on their own.”
“This effort reflects our Board’s commitment to making sure families in East County are not left without the support, safety and coordinated services they need during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.”