named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Bereavement Group & Annual Vigil
Support group and memorial event for family and friends of individuals lost to domestic violence homicides
Children’s Room
A dedicated, renovated space providing trauma-informed care and support for children who have experienced domestic violence
Forensic Medical Unit
Provides injury documentation, including strangulation and traumatic brain injury assessments, to support legal and medical cases
Hope Shop Boutique
A permanent boutique offering clothing, toys, and personal items to domestic violence survivors and their children at no cost
Paws for Love Pet Therapy
On-site therapy dogs from the Erie County SPCA provide emotional comfort during client interviews and counseling sessions
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Domestic Violence Survivor Support Services 4 activities
- Deliver safety planning and crisis intervention servicesProvides crisis intervention, emotional support, risk assessments for stalking and danger levels, and develops individualized safety plans in collaboration with clients, including specialized planning for survivors of strangulation.
- Operate a coordinated service center for domestic violence survivorsOperates the Family Justice Center as a single point of contact to coordinate community response to domestic violence, providing a comprehensive range of services including safety planning, legal assistance, medical forensic exams, and case management to ensure the safety and long-term welfare of victims and their children. Services are available in-person Monday through Friday and virtually via phone.
- Provide specialized support for children and families affected by domestic violenceOffers a dedicated Children’s Room to support healing for child survivors, provides on-site childcare during client meetings, and hosts bereavement support groups and an annual vigil to honor victims of domestic violence homicides.
- Provide technology safety and accessibility supportOffers technology safety planning resources for survivors of abuse and ensures accessibility through language interpretation services, including Spanish-speaking advocates and interpreters for other languages and accessibility needs.
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Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention Education 1 activity
- Deliver educational outreach and training on domestic violenceProvides public education on the forms and progression of domestic violence, including emotional, economic, physical, sexual, and technology-facilitated abuse, and delivers training presentations to schools, businesses, and community organizations on recognizing and responding to abuse.
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Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care Services 1 activity
- Offer spiritual, peer, and pet therapy support servicesProvides interfaith spiritual support through qualified volunteers, peer support and psychoeducational groups for clients, and pet therapy through regular visits by SPCA Paws for Love therapy dogs and handlers.
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Discount Retail for Reuse 1 activity
- Offer supportive resources and basic needs assistanceOperates Hope Shop, a permanent boutique providing clothing, toys, and accessories; maintains a small on-site pantry for hygiene and personal care products; and accepts donations of new clothing and winter gear for adults and children.
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Community Resource Navigation and Support Services 1 activity
- Support client confidentiality and victim compensation accessServes as an Application Assistance Provider for the Erie County Address Confidentiality Program to help clients maintain privacy and assists eligible clients with applications for victim compensation through the Office of Victim Services.
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Uncategorized 2 activities
- Facilitate legal reporting and protection orders for domestic violence survivorsHosts on-site Buffalo Police Department officers and report technicians to assist clients in filing reports and pressing charges; enables remote access to Family Court judges via video-teleconferencing for emergency orders of protection and electronic filing of family offense petitions.
- Provide forensic medical services for survivors of domestic violenceOperates a Forensic Medical Unit to assess, document, and map injuries—including strangulation and traumatic brain injuries—for legal and medical purposes, supporting survivors in criminal and civil proceedings.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.72M
Contributions & grants$1.70M99%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$45K3%
Other revenue$-20K
expenses
Total expenses$1.79M
Program expenses81%
Admin / overhead11%
Fundraising8%
Salaries & benefits$1.04M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$2.52M
Cash$852K
Investments$0
Liabilities$231K
Net assets$2.29M
Liquid reserves5.7 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +10.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CATHARINE MILES-KANIA | CEO | 40 | $137K |
board members · 12
- J'LEISE SOSA MD MPH FACOG — DIRECTOR
- KAREN J PANZARELLA PT PHD — SECRETARY
- KATELYN MURRAY JS LMSW — DIRECTOR
- KENNETH PAWLAK — DIRECTOR
- KEVIN J KIMBALL — PRESIDENT
- KRISTEN FALK — DIRECTOR
- KRISTY LONG — DIRECTOR
- NADIA SHAHRAM — DIRECTOR
- RONALD M OLEJNICZAK CPA — TREASURER
- SATPAL SINGH PHD — DIRECTOR
- TASHA M LEFEVRE MA — VICE PRESIDENT
- TERRIE BENSON MURRAY — DIRECTOR
relationships · 26
Who they work with
- 911 Government — Directs individuals in emergency situations to contact 911 for immediate assistance.
- Buffalo Police Department Government — Has officers on-site at the Downtown FJC location to assist clients in filing reports or pressing charges.
- Buffalo Police Department Partner — Co-locates a police officer and report technician at the FJC to support clients in filing domestic violence reports.
- Bury the Violence Partner — Collaborates with Bury the Violence, an organization founded by survivor Kareema.
- Child Advocacy Center/Child & Adolescent Treatment Services (CATS) Partner — Provides assessment and mental health services for children exposed to domestic violence.
- Child and Family Services – Haven House Partner — On-call partner providing emergency shelter and counseling referrals for domestic violence victims.
- Community Services for Every1 Partner — Collaborates with the Family Justice Center to provide short-term and transitional housing assistance to eligible clients.
- Erie County Coalition Against Family Violence Partner — Collaborated in the development of the 1995 Erie County Long-Term Strategic Plan to improve response to domestic violence.
- Erie County District Attorney’s Office Government — Prosecuting agency for domestic violence crimes in Erie County; oversees related court cases.
- Erie County SPCA – Paws for Love Program Partner — Provides on-site pet therapy through trained therapy dogs to comfort clients during service interactions.
- Facebook Partner — Follows on Facebook for outreach and communication
- Instagram Partner — Follows on Instagram for outreach and communication
- Multidisciplinary Coordinating Council Partner — Co-developed the 1995 Erie County Long-Term Strategic Plan to improve response to domestic violence.
- Neighborhood Legal Services Partner — Provides civil legal assistance, advice, and referrals in divorce, child support, and housing matters.
- New York State Office of the Prevention of Domestic Violence Government — Source of adapted content on types of abuse.
- Office of Court Administration, 8th Judicial District Government — Enables video-teleconferencing access to Family Court Judges for issuance of temporary orders of protection.
- Office on Violence Against Women Government — Federal Office on Violence Against Women awarded Erie County a grant in 2004 to support the establishment of the Family Justice Center.
- Reachout WNY Partner — Resource referenced by FJC for supporting teens in unhealthy relationships.
- SPCA Paws for Love Partner — Provides pet therapy services through regular on-site visits with therapy dogs and handlers.
- U.S. Department of Justice Government — Received a federal grant from the Department of Justice in 2004 to establish the Family Justice Center.
- University at Buffalo School of Law – Family Violence & Women’s Rights Clinic Partner — Provides civil legal representation to domestic violence survivors who do not qualify for free legal aid but cannot afford private attorneys.
- WGRZ-TV Partner — Media partner that produced a video segment highlighting the Family Justice Center’s resources in response to a domestic violence homicide.
- WIVB Partner — Media partner that featured the Family Justice Center’s newly renovated Children’s Room on its program Daytime Buffalo.
- WKBW Partner — Media partner that covered legislative advocacy related to domestic violence and featured stories on teen dating violence prevention.
- X Partner — Follows on X (formerly Twitter) for outreach and communication
- techsafetyapp.org Partner — Partner website providing technology safety planning resources for survivors.
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Addressing Financial Abuse for Survivor Autonomymethodology: financial_empowermentBy recognizing economic control as a core tactic of abuse and integrating financial empowerment into service delivery, the organization supports long-term independence because survivors gain the resources and confidence needed to escape and remain free from abusive relationships.
- Coordinated Community Response Modelmethodology: coordinated_community_responseBy operating as a centralized "one stop shop" with co-located services and a single point of contact, the organization reduces access barriers and improves safety and long-term outcomes for survivors because integrated systems prevent drop-off across referrals and increase survivor autonomy in navigating support.
- Power and Control Frameworkmethodology: power-and-control modelBy framing domestic violence as a systemic pattern of power and control rather than isolated incidents, the organization identifies common behavioral dynamics across diverse relationships, which enables more effective intervention and prevention strategies because it targets root causes rather than symptoms.
- Trauma-Informed Care Approachmethodology: trauma-informed careBy designing services around principles of safety, trust, choice, collaboration, and empowerment — including private, home-like environments and client-led service planning — the organization increases engagement and healing because survivors are less likely to be re-traumatized and more likely to pursue self-identified goals.