SCFJC director: 'We know domestic violence, abuse occurs in LGBTQ households'

SCFJC Coordinator Amanda Vachon stands in front of a mural she created for their offices housed in the James W. Foley Memorial Community Center. (Rochester Voice photo)

ROCHESTER - Strafford County's Family Justice Center has always been all about helping victims and survivors of domestic violence and sex assault, but as they begin their second decade of helping local families, they're hoping to expand their outreach to the LGBTQ community, the center's coordinator said on Thursday.

Tucked into a suite of offices near the former main entrance to the James W. Foley Memorial Community Center at 150 Wakefield St., the center houses space for its governmental and nonprofit partners.

"My job is to bring those partners to the table," said SCFJC Coordinator Amanda Vachon, who has run the center since March 2020.

"Just as the pandemic was starting," she quipped darkly.

That's because while Covid-19 was forcing lockdowns, it was shutting off victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. The center's mission is also to protect against stalking, elder abuse and human trafficking, all of which saw fewer potential clients coming through intake, which is handled by the nonprofit Haven, which is also housed at the center.

"During the pandemic we weren't serving as many," Vachon added.

Now, however, more victims are coming forward, she noted, adding that in every six month period they are advocating for 40 to 50 clients.

As she continues to press the center's mission, she is determined to bring breakthrough advocacy to the LGBTQ community.

"LGBTQ is the new outreach," Vachon said. "It's important no matter what the sexual orientation, we know it's happening in the LGBTQ community.

"It's met with prejudice, but nothing is off the table. We want to be accessible to any victim of abuse, and we have work to do in this part of it."

With April being Sex Assault Awareness Month, and this April marking the center's 10th year in existence, it's entirely appropriate that they use it as a springboard to reach this underserved population.

She said that like any abuse scenario it runs the gamut from verbal to physical, and all are equally heinous.

Assisting SCFJC in its mission are partners like local police departments, SOS, welfare agencies, CASA, the County Attorneys Office, which oversees the center; victim witness advocates and legal assistance programs among others.

For more information on the SCFJC and its governmental and nonprofit partners click here.