Exploring the resources in your own community can be eye-opening. My recent visit to the RedBud Blossom Family Justice Center gave me a closer look at the important work taking place there.
What struck me most was the importance of having a place where people experiencing domestic violence can find support, information, and connections to community resources in one setting. The organization is a division of the Cobb Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office, led by Sonya F. Allen. In difficult circumstances, knowing where to start can make a significant difference.
The visit reminded me that awareness isn’t just important for people experiencing abuse. If a friend, neighbor, co-worker, or family member asks for help, we can only point them in the right direction if we know where to turn. Being familiar with local domestic violence resources makes it easier to respond thoughtfully and connect people with vetted services.
Domestic violence can affect anyone, and it doesn’t always look the way we expect. It can impact children, young adults, and older adults across all income levels and walks of life. And the need for community awareness extends beyond domestic violence. During Georgia’s 2025 state fiscal year, Adult Protective Services received nearly 50,000 reports involving abuse, neglect, or exploitation of older adults and adults with disabilities living in the community. In 2024, more than 42,000 family-violence incidents were reported to law enforcement across Georgia. Together, these numbers offer a glimpse of the scope of abuse in our communities, and why knowing about local resources matters.
Take a moment to explore the Cobb County Family Justice Center’s partner organizations to see which law enforcement agencies and community organizations work together to connect individuals and families with the support and services they need most.
Community education and awareness matter. Wherever we live, we should know where to turn for domestic violence support and services before we ever need them.
I left RedBud Blossom Family Justice Center with a deep appreciation for the people doing this work and a renewed understanding of how much coordinated community support matters. Sometimes, a person’s path forward begins with having someone who knows how to help.
