The Guilford County commissioners and other county officials are proud of the Guilford County Family Justice Center and the notoriety it has achieved in the state and in other parts of the country.

Now the center – which has an office in Greensboro and in High Point – is getting some financial help thanks to both a grant as well as some county taxpayer money that’s about to be allocated.

The Governor’s Crime Commission has awarded $119,000 in grant funding to the Guilford County Sheriff’s Department as long as the county provides a required match of $58,000, which the county intends to do – bringing the total cost to $177,000. The award will fund – at least in part – salaries and benefits for two deputy Sheriff positions who are dedicated to addressing Family Justice Center concerns.

According to information provided to the Guilford County Board of Commissioners, the funding will allow the officers to continue to work “in conjunction with stakeholders to target violent crimes against women.”

The memo states, “The team helps to promote safety, save lives, and foster healthy and violence free families and communities. By combining expertise and efforts in service to a shared mission, the Family Services Unit joins professionals across fields who are working together to save lives in Guilford County. The program’s goal is to reduce the number of family-related homicides in Guilford County.”

The Family Justice Center opened in June of 2015 in downtown Greensboro with a goal of addressing domestic violence, child abuse, elder abuse, threats, murders and related acts that can occur between family members and those in a relationship.  It’s designed to be a “one stop shop” for victims.

According to statistics from the county, in the first years of the Justice Center being open, 54,000 people were served in some way by the two offices and county officials say the demand for the services is on the rise.

The Guilford County Board of Commissioners is expected to approve the grant funding and the matching funds at the board’s Thursday, Feb. 23 meeting.