Sojourner Family Peace Center and Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin joined public officials and community members at a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday to mark the start of construction on Sojourner Family Peace Center’s new 75,000-square-foot site.
The facility, located at 619 W. Walnut St. in Milwaukee, will house an extensive pool of resources for victims of domestic abuse and will offer holistic support to victims of all ages.
In addition to offering victims a 24-hour crisis shelter and hotline, the Sojourner Family Peace Center will feature legal resources for victims navigating the criminal justice system, case management services, drug and alcohol counseling, sexual assault services, and health care.
Through a partnership with Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, the facility will host a Child Advocacy Center with physical, mental and dental services for youth as well as crisis intervention and management resources and mental health services.
With the backing of area governmental agencies, the Sojourner Family Peace Center will also house support services administered by the Milwaukee Police Department, the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office and Milwaukee Public Schools.
The $21.2 million center, slated to open in November 2015, follows an innovative approach to overcoming domestic violence known as the Family Justice Center model. The international model is a “best practice for delivering care to families impacted by domestic violence,” according to Sojourner Family Peace Center, and brings a cross sector of professionals advocating for victims under one roof.
The Milwaukee resource center has been made possible by a diversity of funding sources, including more than $10 million from the state budget, a $2.5 million gift from the Selig family, and contributions from Children’s Hospital among additional private foundations and donors. About $1.2 million toward the center is still needed.
Project partners include Harwood Engineering Consultants, Ltd., M&E Architects, Mortenson Construction, Rivet LLC, T.L. Reese Construction, Zimmerman Architectural Studios, and Zoe Engineering LLC.
