The Family Justice Center Institute (FJCI) of the National Family Justice Center Alliance (NFJCA) is sponsored by Verizon. There are four major goals of the Institute:

• Goal #1: Establish model technology-based safety services for all member Centers in the NFJCA
  
  The Institute will assist NFJCA member sites in developing model technology-based safety services to enhance direct services to domestic violence victims/clients at each Center including intake/case management software. The Institute will also assist in developing: client satisfaction surveys; on-line surveys for clients; staff and partner agency training to identify client needs, monitor progress and address emerging issues; client focus group questions; protocols for the use of text/video messaging for communication with individual Center clients; and secure information storage (electronic client safety deposit boxes) and information sharing mechanisms for clients moving from one Family Justice Center community to another based on client safety and security needs.
  
  Objectives: To use technology to enhance service delivery to victims; to field test prospective technology applications prior to extensive implementation; to create protocols for the use of client service oriented technology even prior to application of the technology in NFJCA member sites; to create a model client intake system for implementation at NFJCA member sites; to use technology to create standardized data collection standards for future evaluation purposes.
  
  Activities: Develop and implement a needs assessment to evaluate practical uses of text messaging, video messaging, FJC-based email accounts, and voicemail in the FJC model; Conduct a feasibility study regarding the use of V-Cast phones for direct client services (equipment needs, costs, and safety considerations); Create electronic safety deposit box system and related protocols for allowing client to store and retrieve needed documents related to civil protection orders, criminal justice system records, documentary evidence, family history documents, and other vital records (five NFJCA member sites); Identify and implement a model client intake/case management system in one pilot NFJCA member site; Identify appropriate information to track effectiveness of client services in pilot site.
  
  
• Goal #2: Promote best practice/promising practice-based on-line training and technical assistance for all service providers in member Centers of the NFJCA.
  
  The Institute will provide education, training, and on-going technical assistance to professionals, clients, and family members of clients at Family Justice Centers through a password protected website using web-based broadcasts and on-line trainings on: Investigation, Prosecution, Advocacy, Safety and Security, Clinical Assessments, Information Sharing, Grant Writing/Sustainability, Strategic Planning, Board Development, and Governance. The trainings will be divided into 'Advanced' and 'Basic' to separate discussions/trainings with new service providers/staff members at Centers from experienced, operating, established Centers/professionals. The on-line training will also allow hands-on learning opportunities using scenarios from actual FJC experiences (e.g. victim with outstanding arrest warrant seeking services, abuser comes with victim to Center and demands entrance with prospective client, client arrives and collapses in the Center while awaiting services, parent seeks services for assault by their own child, recent victim applies to join the FJC Volunteer Program) and opportunities to see appropriate responses after answering on-line questions regarding potential responses. The trainings will contain evaluation surveys to monitor the quality of the presentations and speakers as well as pre and post tests to facilitate accreditation.
  
  Objectives: To set up an electronic learning system for distance learning; to develop core training modules for each operational component of a Family Justice Center; to provide services to clients and professionals; to provide on-demand on-line trainings in a secure, password-protected Internet-based learning environment.
  
  Activities: Hold monthly webinar trainings for FJC professionals; Conduct monthly audio conferences (and video conferences subject to available technology) with FJC Directors; Conduct a feasibility study for the use of Web TV-based training through the NFJCA; Design and launch a new NFJCA website with appropriate resource links and on-line training resources; Create on-line FJC resource library; and Create on-line FJC resource links.
  
  
• Goal #3: Develop a survivor-centered, Learning Collaborative Model including learning exchange programs and trainings as part of the Annual International Family Justice Center Conference and creation of model protocols for inter-Center staff exchanges and direct client service internship programs.
  
  The Institute will develop a survivor-centered Learning Collaborative Model to enhance peer training and learning/information exchanges among on-site staff, clients, family members, and allied professionals integrated into the Annual International Family Justice Center Conference. It will also develop model protocols for a 5 day staff exchange and an undergraduate/graduate student internship program. The Institute will facilitate one initial staff exchange to assist in designing the staff exchange model in which a team of staff members from one Center will be assigned to observe service delivery functions at the partnering Center for the purposes of learning alternate service delivery approaches and enhancing existing approaches in areas such as: Intake, safety planning, investigations, clinical assessments, medical services, volunteer program and supervision/management,. The Institute will design course objectives, protocols based on the size of the visiting team, evaluation surveys, and outcome measurements to evaluate the success of the staff exchange.
  
  The Institute will also establish a model internship program and seek to implement the model in five pilot NFJCA member sites including certification of internship completion and protocols for the receipt of continuing education credits where appropriate. The entire focus of the internship project will be improving and increasing the provision of direct services to victims of domestic violence through the use of undergraduate and graduate interns to provide direct services to clients using the co-located service delivery model of the Family Justice Center.
  
  Objectives: To provide relationship-based, in-person, on-site training for Family Justice Center professionals; to create multi-disciplinary peer learning opportunities for Family Justice Center professionals; to promote service provider accountability to survivors/FJC clients in all NFJCA member sites; to establish a national survivors network; to develop a model staff exchange program; and to create a model internship program to provide direct services to clients in NFJCA member sites.
  
  Activities: Develop interactive learning exchange sessions, by subject matter area, for FJC professionals at the annual International FJC Conference (IFJCC); Develop curriculums in the areas of investigation, prosecution, advocacy, safety and security, clinical assessments, information sharing, grant writing/sustainability, strategic planning, board development, volunteer recruitment, training, and supervision, and governance; Host an 'FJC Marketplace' at the annual IFJCC with displays from all participating NFJCA member Centers; Recruit faculty members affiliated with national domestic violence organizations to participate in the IFJCC; Recruit members (survivors) for national VOICES network; Identify two NFJCA sites for development of a model 5 day staff exchange program; Identify five NFJCA sites for development of a model internship program utilizing undergraduate and graduate students; Implement internship program in five NFJCA sites.
  
  
• Goal #4: Provide oversight, coordination, and national policy guidance for all NFJCA members including creation of a national faculty, annual convening of a national advisory board, national VOICES (survivors) network, and collaborative partnerships with national domestic violence organizations.
  
  The national faculty will participate in on-line trainings, monthly NFJCA webinar trainings, and the International Family Justice Center Conference. The national advisory board will meet annually at the International Family Justice Center Conference. The national VOICES/survivor network will allow survivors at NFJCA member sites to communicate with each other, provide input into service delivery protocols, assist in training professionals, share stories, and provide peer support. The VOICES/survivor network will be developed with leadership and input from survivors serving on the national advisory board. Scholarships will be provided within the Institute for survivors and other VOICES network members to participate in the Annual International Family Justice Center Conference and related Learning Exchanges.

   

  
  
  Objectives: To establish national service delivery standards for all NFJCA member sites; to establish a national faculty for training and technical assistance for all NFJCA member sites; to create national FJC VOICES/survivors network; to create service delivery accountability to survivors at all Centers; to establish a national FJC advisory board; to develop tools, benchmarks, and baselines for best-practice safety services at participating NFJCA member sites; to identify future research priorities
  
  Activities: Convene an annual meeting of the nine member FJCI Advisory Board; develop partnership/collaboration agreements with national domestic violence organizations including the Corporate Alliance Against Partner Violence, the National Network Against Domestic Violence, the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the Family Violence Prevention Fund, the Battered Women's Justice Project, and Praxis International; provide scholarships to VOICES/survivor's network members to attend IFJCC; host annual meetings of the VOICES/survivor's network;

Technology Components

One of the core focus areas of the FJCI will be developing a network of relationships between Centers and Center staff members with a technology focus for the purposes of improving the quality of services to and safety for victims of domestic violence and their children. The technology components of the FJCI component of the Alliance will focus in four major areas:

1. Networking between Centers (Audio/Video teleconferencing, on-line webinar trainings, joint IT consulting services related to model intake and information sharing protocols, standardized intake-related data fields for evaluation purposes, and clinical assessments with shared software applications);
2. On-line training for Center staff, survivors, family members, and allied partner agencies (audio, webinar, and video teleconferencing, and access to on-line resources);
3. Protocol development for direct services to clients (Text messaging, video messaging, electronic client 'safety deposit boxes' for all vital documents, Internet access, and inter-Center client transfer processes with information sharing policies);
4. Capacity Building/Sustainability Strategies (On-line resource library, grant writing training services and strategic planning services with a focus on developing other technologies in Family Justice Centers in the coming months and years).

Conclusion

The FJCI component of the Alliance will develop innovative approaches to meeting the needs of victims of family violence and their children through the network of existing and developing Family Justice Centers across America and throughout the world in the next twenty years. Specific objectives, activities, and measurable outcomes will be documented as noted in the timeline below. The national faculty for the FJC Institute component of the Alliance will include experts from the National Network to End Domestic Violence, the Battered Women's Justice Project, the Corporate Alliance Against Partner Violence, the President's Family Justice Center Initiative, and Praxis International (Duluth, MN).