One Safe Place: A Centralized Hub for Victims of Crime, Violence, and Abuse
By Michael Truong.
Michael is Health Services’ new clinical case manager, connecting students to Health Services related resources in the community. Michael is an Associate Clinical Social Worker and proud North County San Diego native who attained his Master’s of Social Work (MSW) at California State University San Marcos. As a second-generation Vietnamese-American, Michael's personal journey as a child of refugees during the Vietnamese diaspora has enriched his perspective with cultural humility, fostering inclusivity, and emphasizing the inherent dignity and worth of every individual. With over 3 years of hands-on case management experience in San Diego County's Child & Family Well-Being Department, Michael served as an Emergency Response Social Worker. In this role, he assessed safety, responded to crises, and facilitated connections to a plethora of community resources for families in need.
Whenever a person experiences any form of crime, violence, and/or abuse, it is often overwhelming to know where to go to receive support. Most times it may feel unclear on what to do, where to go, and who to reach out to for help. Other times, survivors are given resources for numerous locations to receive different forms of care. To address this, in July 2022, North County San Diego opened the North County Family Justice Center also known as One Safe Place (OSP).
One Safe Place is a non-profit organization that is a “one-stop” location for free support services to anyone who has experienced child abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence, hate crime, elder abuse, human trafficking, violent loss, family violence, or other abuse or victimization. It’s designed to be the ideal starting place as it is a centralized hub for anybody who is seeking services. The goal is to ensure trauma-informed care for survivors and their children and to simplify the process of receiving care.
Why Go to One Safe Place for Services?
- Effective Intake Process: quick intake and immediate connection with Care Coordinator
- Safe and Comfortable Environment: designed to ensure safety and comfort for victims including subtle white noise throughout the building, fast entry into a safe room, plants to make the environment feel greener and calmer, security measures such as preventing access to identified stalks/perpetrators/etc. when victim is in the facility, etc.
- Supervised Children’s Area: A supervised children’s area is included to allow for supervision while the caregiver is meeting to coordinate or receive services. The childcare room includes books, video games, art, snacks, and other activities.
- Extensive Community Network: Connected to over 70 community partners on and off-site. A representative from one of the on-site partners may be available in the facility to meet with the client.
- Restraining Order Clinic: where clients will receive direct assistance from a pro-bono lawyer who will help with paperwork to attain a restraining order.
- Safe Housing Assistance: is provided in partnership with community providers to locate safe shelter as well as long-term housing.
- Comprehensive Law Enforcement Support: Four law enforcement departments, along with the District Attorney’s Office (featuring an attorney, investigator, and victim’s advocate), are available on-site to offer assistance.
- Dress for Hope Shop: is a boutique to provide clothing assistance for job interviews, court appointments, etc. Additionally, they provide emergency clothing.
- Government Assistance Programs: assistance with programs such as CalFresh, CalWorks, and Cash Aid.
- Pet-Friendly Services: Pets are welcome and pet assistance is available to provide care while client is receiving services.
Who is Eligible for Services?
Simply put, anybody in the community who has been a victim of violence and/or abuse is eligible.Examples of those eligible include victims of:
- Child abuse
- Sexual assault
- Domestic Violence/Intimate Partner Violence
- Hate crime
- Elder abuse
- Human trafficking
- Violent loss
- Family violence
- Other abuse or victimization
Services
One Safe Place offers a wide range of services, including case management, trauma therapy, forensic medical exams, legal assistance, child services, and connections to a multitude of community partners all under one roof.The services they provide specifically include:
Case Management
After entering the center, you will be met with a Care Coordinator who will assist with providing case management services to help navigate the complex legal and social systems that you may encounter. In this process, the Care Coordinator will work with you to identify needs and goals and then develop a plan to help achieve those goals.Trauma Therapy
One Safe Place offers trauma therapy services to help victims of abuse and violence heal from the emotional and psychological effects of their experiences. Short-term therapy with a licensed therapist, LGBTQ+ specialized trauma therapy, and support groups are all provided.Forensic Medical Exams
One Safe Place provides forensic medical exams to victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. These exams are conducted by specially trained medical professionals who are able to collect evidence that can be used in criminal investigations.Legal Assistance
One Safe Place provides legal assistance to victims of abuse and violence. This includes assistance from a pro-bono lawyer who will help with restraining orders, custody issues, and other legal matters related to abuse and violence.Child Services
One Safe Place provides a wide range of services to help children who have been victims of abuse and violence. These services include counseling, case management, and referrals to other community resources.Community Partnerships
One Safe Place works with over 70 community partners to provide victims of abuse and violence with the support and resources they need to move forward with their lives. These partners include law enforcement agencies, medical professionals, social service agencies, and other non-profit organizations.Some examples of the diverse partnerships with OSP include: Palomar Health, UURISE, UPAC, North County LGBTQ Resource Center, TrueCare, Neighborhood Healthcare, TURN Behavioral Health Services, SD Youth Services, San Diego Human Society, San Diego Regional Center, Mexican Consulate, Alzheimer’s Association, Serving Seniors, NAMI, Crisis House, First Five, Big Brothers and Big Sisters of SD, Interfaith, Kathy’s Legacy, Leah’s Pantry, Voices for Children, Women’s Resource Center, Your Safe Place, 2-1-1, and many more.
Hours of Operation
One Safe Place’s hours are intentionally open for longer hours and on Saturdays to accommodate for individuals and families who have school and/or work.Appointments are available but are not necessary as walk-in services are available during hours of operation. To schedule an appointment, please call 760-290-3690.
The center is open Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 8:00pm and Saturday from 8:00am to 12:00pm.
What to Expect
One Safe Place has arranged 4 short 1-minute videos on what to expect from your visit:- About Our Center and Directions
- Entering the Center
- Our Lobby and Child Waiting Room
- Meeting Our Care Coordinators and Partners
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