Planning Process
Strategic Planning
In September of 2022 over 70 state-based providers, community stakeholders, partners, survivors, and allies met to participate in a strategic planning process led by the principles of the Alliance for Hope/Family Justice who provided technical support for Delaware’s Family Justice Center project. Through the strategic planning process, six work groups were established under the FJC Steering Committee to focus on critical aspects of the work to plan for and develop these centers.
Feasibility Study
Tevebaugh Architecture completed a feasibility study regarding FJCs in January 2025 and they extensively researched state properties and available real estate in all three counties. Three viable properties have been identified: a state-owned site on the Stockley campus in Sussex County, a privately-owned property in the City of Wilmington that is owned and managed by the Woodlawn Trustees, and the Hope Center, owned by New Castle County. In the study, a viable property was not located in Kent County.
The FJC Council will continue to explore site options to serve survivors in Kent County. The Stockley campus offers many advantages. There are several other service providers already on site, including Christiana Care, Delaware Adolescent Program Inc. (DAPI), Head Start, Department of Labor, and Delaware State Police Troop 4. The site will soon have a bus route, there is room for growth, and it will be rent-free.
The Wilmington site owned by Woodlawn has a small office setting, but sits on a bus line, will offer parking, and includes 4 apartments adjacent to the potential FJC office space, to be utilized as transitional housing for families moving from abusive relationships to independence, which is greatly needed. The Hope Center provides temporary housing and connects individuals with co-located service organizations available to assist community members on-site.
Many of these organizations could provide shared services to survivors seeking services at the FJC as well. The area available to the FJC for renovation and use includes the pool/aquatic area, which is connected to, but securely separated from, the main service area in the Hope Center. The Hope Center location offers ample parking, and the center will be on a bus line.
Visioning Sessions
In June of 2023 two workshops were held for community partners in each county. The objective was to identify specific challenges and needs for their specific county to better understand how to customize the location of the site and service offerings.
