Women Aware, Inc. is pleased to announce the appointment of Mildred Torres as Director of the Family Justice Center in Middlesex County. In its early stages of development, the Center will be a safe, welcoming space where legal services, human services, social services, law enforcement and judiciary come together under one roof to better serve adult and child survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in the County. It is located at 100 Bayard Street, 4th Floor, New Brunswick.
Mildred joined the Women Aware team in 2010 as a Legal Advocate. She quickly climbed the ranks to the Coordinator of Advocacy Services, and is now Director of the Family Justice Center. In her current role, she works closely with the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, local police departments and community partners to advocate for the needs of domestic violence victims. In addition, she oversees staff in providing direct services to victims of domestic violence, including education about their rights under the law, assistance with obtaining Temporary or Final Restraining Orders, court accompaniment and housing assistance. Mildred completed the NJ Victim Assistance Academy at Rutgers University in August 2017. She is certified as a Jacquelyn Campbell Danger Assessor and is bilingual in Spanish.
“Mildred has been promoted time and again during her tenure at Women Aware because of her hard work, commitment and, truly, her heart,” said Phyllis Yonta, CEO. “Over the last decade, Mildred has helped more than 10,000 people; I know, for a fact, she has saved lives. She is truly the right person to lead the FJC as Women Aware and our partners work to serve victims better.”
In her new role, Mildred will oversee all clinical, administrative, and managerial aspects of the family justice center. She will ensure ongoing programmatic excellence, quality management, and infrastructure to support and advance the services needed to meet families’ needs.
“Survivors need a place they feel welcomed, believed and supported. I am honored to be appointed Director of such a place, the Middlesex County Family Justice Center,” Mildred said. “I believe the array of skills and experiences I’ve acquired over the years from corporate to government to nonprofit, as well as a survivor of a near fatal domestic violence incident, provides me a unique perspective and ability to successfully oversee the Family Justice Center. Along with my dedicated staff and community partners, I am here to provide survivors compassionate support and comprehensive services. The Family Justice Center is a dream come true.”
The Family Justice Center model, created by the Alliance for HOPE International and recognized by the US Department of Justice, has achieved the following outcomes: reduced homicides; increased victim safety; increased autonomy and empowerment for victims; reduced fear and anxiety for victims and their children; increased efficiency and coordination among service providers; and reduced recantation and minimization by victims when wrapped in services and support; increased prosecution of offenders; and dramatically increased community support services to victims and their children. For more information about the FJC model, visit www.familyjusticecenter.org.
The family justice center in Middlesex County will be the fifth in New Jersey. Centers are currently operating in Essex, Monmouth, Morris and Union counties.
