New Family Advocacy Center opens to serve all crime victims in Tempe
The city of Tempe, in partnership with Arizona State University, is making a new investment in the health and well-being of the community with the opening of a Family Advocacy Center that serves all victims of crime at one centralized, confidential location.
Any ASU student, regardless of campus location, as well as Tempe residents and visitors of all ages now have access to comprehensive victim services and advocacy resources that address both immediate and long-term needs in an accessible, safe and healing environment.
“Family Advocacy Centers are the gold standard for serving victims of crime, and we are so proud to open the doors to anyone who needs our help,” said Mayor Corey Woods. “In partnership with ASU, we have carefully designed this center to be a welcoming place where survivors and their families can feel comfortable and cared for as they work with advocates to access city and community resources.”
The Family Advocacy Center features a comfortable living room and teen room, a cozy quiet room, children’s play areas, yoga and art space, a kitchen stocked with drinks and snacks, and a laundry room. Cheerful artwork hangs throughout the center, and the city’s comfort canine Sully, a sweet Labrador, offers his calming presence. See the space in this new video.
Services are tailored to the needs of victims and their families, including:
- Crisis intervention.
- Orders of protection and safety planning.
- Access to city resources such as counseling or shelter.
- Connections to community resources.
- Trauma-healing programs such as yoga, art and music therapy.
The center is designed to welcome victims in a secure lobby and connect them with victim advocates from the city’s CARE 7 team as well as ASU.
Victims can receive services with or without police involvement. The center has an entirely separate space for Tempe and ASU police and a private room for police interviews if needed. Advocacy is offered throughout the criminal justice process.
The location is kept confidential for safety reasons. Anyone who needs help should call the city’s CARE & HOPE Line at 480-350-8004, and staff there will help make the connection to the center. Learn more at tempe.gov/FamilyAdvocacyCenter.
Tempe will continue to expand services at the center, with designated space for medical exams and clinical counseling. In partnership with Tempe Municipal Court, the center will offer virtual court so victims can easily address needs such as obtaining an order of protection.
The Tempe City Council approved the center in 2021 and has invested nearly $800,000 in city General Fund dollars and federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to lease and upgrade the 11,600-square-foot space. The city expects to invest nearly $300,000 each year in operating costs and is leveraging federal grant funds to support staffing. ASU is contributing $45,000 annually to offset costs as part of a five-year agreement.
“This shared investment, a novel and promising approach, extends the reach of our on-campus services and affords choice for how and where members of our community receive support and care,” said Joanne Vogel, vice president of student services at ASU. “We look forward to receiving feedback about how these resources, in addition to our current offerings, continue to meet the individualized needs of victims of crime.”
The city’s collaboration with ASU is vital, helping ensure that all students are aware of this safe space and able to access resources confidentially, said Tim Burch, Tempe’s director of community health and human services.
Burch also praised partnerships with donors whose contributions brought the former office space to life.
“The community has truly embraced the Family Advocacy Center,” Burch said. “We are grateful to Tempe Leadership for providing all of the furniture to make the center feel like a home and Kids in Focus for the beautiful artwork throughout this space.”
Additional ASU resources
In addition to the partnership with Tempe’s Family Advocacy Center, ASU offers students an array of support services.
- ASU Victim-Survivor Services, through its victim advocates, offers free advocacy and support for students and employees affected by sexual assault, relationship violence, stalking, sexual harassment and other related experiences. It is a safe and confidential starting point for ASU students and employees affected by these issues. Find out more on the website, call 480-965-0107 or email victimservices@asu.edu.
- Additional sexual and relationship violence support resources — including reporting options, educational content and confidential support — are available. Find out more on the Sexual Violence Awareness, Prevention and Response website.
- Student Advocacy and Assistance can be a helpful first step in learning more about the resources available to all students as they provide assistance across a diverse set of experiences and concerns, such as academic probation, sexual assault, illness, domestic and relationship violence, grief, loss and more.
- ASU Counseling Services are available to students 24/7, 365 days a year. They offer confidential, personal counseling and crisis services for students. ASU Online students have access to counseling and wellness services through 360 Life Services.
- The LiveSafe mobile app puts safety resources at your fingertips, whether you need to report a tip to the ASU Police Department, make an emergency call or get a virtual walk home.
- ASU Health Services offer physicians and nurse practitioners who are board certified in emergency medicine, family medicine, internal medicine, neurology, orthopedics, rheumatology and sports medicine.
- Support Circles are drop-in, group support, at no cost to students. Each 60-minute support circle has been mindfully designed to build community with group members and improve social-emotional insight. Find the schedule on the Support Circles page.
- The Educational Outreach and Student Services website lists additional support resources, including family services, cultural engagement, Hey Sunny (formerly Adulting 101) and accessibility resources.
- The Basic Needs website offers resources for the Pitchfork Pantry, housing insecurity and legal assistance.
Top photo by iStock