Tempe’s new Family Advocacy Center is designed to serve all crime victims at one centralized, confidential location.

The center, opened in partnership with Arizona State University, provides students, residents and visitors of all ages resources to address both immediate and long-term needs “in an accessible, safe and healing environment,” city officials stated in a release.

"Family Advocacy Centers are the gold standard for serving victims of crime, and we are so proud to open the doors to anyone who needs our help,” Mayor Corey Woods said.

“In partnership with ASU, we have carefully designed this center to be a welcoming place where survivors and their families can feel comfortable and cared for as they work with advocates to access city and community resources.”

Services include:

• Crisis intervention.
• Orders of Protection and safety planning.
• Access to city resources such as counseling or shelter.
• Connections to community resources.
• Trauma healing programs such as yoga, art and music therapy.

Tempe’s Family Justice Commission began pushing for a Family Advocacy Center in 2017, and the Tempe City Council approved the center in 2021.

Nearly $800,000 in city money and federal American Rescue Plan Act funds have been used to lease and upgrade an 11,600-square-foot space, according to the release. 

The city expects to invest nearly $300,000 each year in operating costs and is leveraging federal grant funds to support staffing, officials said. ASU is contributing $45,000 annually to offset costs as part of a five-year agreement.

“This shared investment, a novel and promising approach, extends the reach of our on-campus services and affords choice for how and where members of our community receive support and care,” Joanne Vogel, vice president of Student Services at ASU, said. 

Anyone who needs help can get started by calling the city’s CARE & HOPE Line at 480-350-8004.