In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, we are highlighting the stories of DA employees and what inspired them to pursue a career in public service. In this video you will meet One Safe Place Care Coordinator Lisbet Perez, whose personal journey lead her to dedicate her career to helping others who have gone through the same experiences as her.
You can read more Hispanic Heritage Month stories from the DA’s Office, here.
San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced that One Safe Place: The North County Family Justice Center in San Marcos, is celebrating its two-year anniversary and has released an Impact Report, which highlights the achievements and services offered at this state-of-the-art Family Justice Center. The report was released during a celebration at One Safe Place on Monday with more than 100 community partners, leaders and dignitaries in attendance. WATCH a video of the 2-year anniversary celebration below. Read more about the milestones accomplished by One Safe Place, here.
San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced that One Safe Place: The North County Family Justice Center in San Marcos, is celebrating its two-year anniversary and has released an Impact Report, which highlights the achievements and services offered at this state-of-the-art Family Justice Center. The report was released during a celebration at One Safe Place on Monday with more than 100 community partners, leaders and dignitaries in attendance.
Watch a video of the two-year anniversary celebration, here. You can read the complete Two-Year “Impact Report” for One Safe Place, here.
“For two years, One Safe Place: The North County Family Justice Center became a place for hope, healing and justice for over 6,000 victims and survivors including more than 2,000 children,” said DA Stephan. “Our collaboration with an unprecedented 107 community and government partners, especially Palomar Health and its nationally accredited Child Advocacy Center, allows us to meet the safety and health needs of every person who walks through our doors from help with trauma services, restraining orders, sexual assault and domestic violence examinations to connections with housing and jobs that allow victims to live with dignity and safety.”
Since opening on July 5, 2022, One Safe Place has supported more than 6,000 people, provided legal services to over 1,600 people, and received more than 14,000 calls to its helpline. The center serves as a community hub, where more than 23,000 people have taken part in various public safety-related events, trainings and meetings. One Safe Place provides support services all under one roof to anyone who has experienced any type of crime or victimization. Currently, One Safe Place collaborates with some 107 community organizations and agencies from across the county.
The two-year history of services offered at One Safe Place include:
The two-year anniversary celebration included formal remarks from San Marcos Mayor Rebecca Jones, Carlsbad Police Chief Christie Calderwood, Palomar Health Executive for Strategic Planning Sheila Brown, and Mexican Consul General Alicia Kerber-Palma.
Three survivors who have received services at One Safe Place spoke at the ceremony, including Amy, who took part in a mentorship program called Pathways and a summer camp called Camp Hope, designed for children who have experienced trauma.
“Pathways events have helped me feel normal, when everything in my life at the moment was everything but normal,” Amy said. “One Safe Place has become my safe haven. I can confidently say I feel safe when I am here. Every single person here, with a simple hello, has made me feel valued.”
As part of the two-year anniversary celebration, a conference room was dedicated and named after Dr. Wilma Wooten, retired San Diego County Chief Public Health Officer and was named the “Dr. Wooten Health and Healing Collaboration Space.” Dr.Wooten was a champion for victims recognizing the importance of collaboration between public health and public safety professionals. The onsite Forensic Health Services Suite was also named the “Cathy McLennan Forensic Health Services Suite” named after the late Cathy McLennan, a nationally recognized forensic interviewer from Palomar Health who dedicated her career to the protection of children.
One Safe Place: The North County Family Justice Center is located at 1050 Los Vallecitos Blvd., San Marcos, CA 92069. It is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on the first Saturday of the month from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
The San Diego County District Attorney’s Office is celebrating the two year anniversary of opening One Safe Place: The North County Family Justice Center and in this video, District Attorney Summer Stephan shares 5 things you should know about this amazing family justice center that is an important resource for our community:
To learn more about One Safe Place, just visit OneSafePlaceNorth.org.
In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from September 15 through October 15, we are highlighting stories from DA employees and what inspired them to pursue a career in public service. Meet Claudia Grasso, Executive Director of the DA’s One Safe Place: The North County Family Justice Center.
Claudia Grasso was born and raised in East Los Angeles in a one-bedroom apartment where she lived with her parents and three siblings until she went off to college.
Claudia attended UCLA for her undergraduate studies, then Harvard for graduate school and later, the University of San Diego School of Law.
She is currently assigned as the Executive Director of One Safe Place: The North County Family Justice Center, where she oversees the DA’s Family Justice Center in San Marcos that provides wrap around services to victims of abuse.
When she is not busy helping victims or working on all the important services offered by One Safe Place, she loves watching her son play football and baseball, spending time with family and friends, listening to 80s music, reading, watching movies and traveling to visit her daughter who recently graduated from college.
What inspired you to pursue a career at the DA’s Office/in law enforcement?
“I knew from a young age that I wanted to be a lawyer. Where I grew up, I was exposed early on to victimization of our family and neighbors and had positive experiences with law enforcement. When I learned that there was a branch of law that works with law enforcement, helps victims and fights to bring them justice, I was drawn to prosecution work.”
What is your favorite part of the job?
“I have served our San Diego’s District Attorney’s Office for over 21 years, first as a volunteer attorney and then as a Deputy District Attorney. I loved my assignments in Family Protection and getting to try cases where I worked hard to bring justice for women and children. Now, I am thoroughly rewarded by seeing every day the lives we are saving at One Safe Place by providing alternatives to living with abuse that are safe and hope filled.”
What does Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you? Why is it important?
“According to the last census, 35% of San Diego County residents identify as Hispanic/Latino. As a member of this community and proud Latina, I have a passion for outreach, prevention and training geared to our Latinos. So many live in fear of deportation, are misinformed, lack culturally sensitive services in Spanish and are outright marginalized. It is important to not only bring to light the wonderful accomplishments of Latinos during this month but also pay it forward with assistance to those who need it all year round.”
In this week’s DA News Update, District Attorney Summer Stephan recognizes victims of fentanyl overdoses, and explains a historic binational agreement to help crime victims.
San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced today the start of a historic partnership with the Attorney General of the State Baja California, the State of Baja California Justice Center for Women and the DA’s One Safe Place: The North County Family Justice Center. There are close to 300 Family Justice Centers world-wide and this agreement makes One Safe Place the first Family Justice Center to have an international partnership. Baja California is the 12th-largest state by area in Mexico.
The DA also announced the renewal of a partnership between the Consul General of Mexico in San Diego and the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office for the Mexican Consulate to have presence at One Safe Place via community outreach, crime prevention and vital services for the victims we serve. The partnerships were solidified with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today. [WATCH video of signing ceremony here.]
“Criminals who prey on victims for human trafficking, exploitation and violence know no borders,” said DA Summer Stephan, “Thousands cross the border every day between Tijuana and San Diego to go to work, school or visit family and friends and we know that there are many who are victims of crime on either side of the border. With this partnership, we will work together to cross-refer victims and provide vital services on both sides of the border to further regionalize help and ensure they can get to a safe and healing place no matter where they live or work.”
Since opening in July 2022, One Safe Place has served over 5,500 individuals, provided legal services to approximately 1,500 people, and received more than 16,000 calls and emails to their various helplines. One Safe Place provides support services all under one roof to anyone who has experienced child abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence, hate crime, elder abuse, human trafficking, violent loss, family violence, or other abuse or victimization. This is all in collaboration with over 100 community organizations and agencies like the Mexican Consulate and now the Attorney General of the State of Baja California and the State of Baja California Justice Center for Women, created to prevent violence against women and girls by providing legal, psychological and social services. Victims will no longer be forced to cross the border, sometimes waiting hours, to get to services. This partnership will ensure culturally-sensitive referrals for victims to access resources where they live, work or where they are most comfortable.
“Violence against women, children, and vulnerable people leaves a deep mark on their lives. It is necessary to develop and implement action protocols to guarantee comprehensive and sensitive care for victims of gender violence,” said the Attorney General of Baja California, Maria Elena Andrade Ramírez. “For this reason, I thank the San Diego County Attorney’s Office for providing a space where Mexican authorities can assist their fellow citizens who are victims of this crime. Baja California and California share a history of fighting against criminals who commit crimes on both sides of the border. We are convinced that working together is an opportunity to strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation to ensure that victims receive help to heal their physical and emotional wounds, as well as guarantee justice for them.”
“Considering the reality of gender violence in our state and our close relationship with the United States, strengthening binational cooperation is not only important, it is imperative,” said Magdalena Bautista, Director of the State of Baja California Justice Center for Women. “Violence against women does not recognize borders, so justice and protection should not have limits either. Through this memorandum of understanding, we are taking a significant step to expand our impact and effectiveness in providing care and access to justice for women, and we reaffirm more strongly than ever our commitment to building a future where no woman has to live in fear, and where justice knows no borders.”
The renewal of the MOU with the Mexican Consulate further creates opportunities for collaboration with One Safe Place in outreach and prevention work, including the Consulate’s participation in the free informative community event “Cafecito Con La Comunidad” which takes place the second Friday of every month at One Safe Place. Together, the Mexican Consulate and One Safe Place have hosted events on wellness, have made college connections for first generation students and provided Consulate services at One Safe Place to meet the needs of the North County community and alleviate transportation barriers for those who are unable to travel to the Consulate’s main office in downtown San Diego.
“Addressing domestic violence requires a collective effort,” said Alicia Kerber-Palma, Consul General of Mexico in San Diego. “It is crucial that we work together – government agencies, community organizations, and local leaders – to provide support to victims and prevent future cases of abuse. Consular assistance and the protection of Mexican communities abroad through the Consulate General of Mexico in San Diego constitutes the highest priority of our foreign policy.”
“The continued partnership with the Mexican Consulate has helped strengthen a bridge with the Latino community and helps enhance their trust in law enforcement when reporting crime and seeking help when victimized,” said DA Stephan. “Together we will continue to work to ensure that victims who seek services at One Safe Place, where the Mexican Consulate is an onsite partner, receive culturally sensitive help in their native language that focuses on safety, justice and healing.”
One Safe Place: The North County Family Justice Center is located at 1050 Los Vallecitos Blvd., San Marcos, CA 92069. It is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8 p.m. to 12 p.m. The State Baja California Justice Center for Women is located at Avenida Moctezuma #1, Colonia Residencial de Cortez, Camino Verde, 22190 Tijuana, Baja California, with hours of operation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
[VIDEO of One Safe Place: The North County Family Justice Center.]
We are more than halfway through the year and District Attorney Summer Stephan wanted to take this opportunity to let you know about some of the work we are doing at the DA’s Office. Here are 5 things the DA’s Office accomplished last year in 2023:
1- Working together, we were able to reduce the numbers of fentanyl overdoses by over 7% especially with youth.
2- We updated our unique school threats protocol with all 42 school districts that is laser focused on preventing school shootings.
3- We grew and supported a first-of-its-kind Elder Justice Task Force that is working around the clock to protect seniors from fraud that destroys their hard-earned retirement.
4- We fought retail theft through our specialized team and brought down multiple organized retail crime rings to protect small and large businesses.
5- We served over 5,000 vulnerable victims at One Safe Place: The North County Family Justice Center, removing them from a sure path to homelessness and despair. We continue to work to obtain justice for victims of domestic violence, human trafficking, hate crimes, organized retail theft, fentanyl poisoning, environmental and consumer fraud, elder abuse, sex crimes, child abuse and many more.
You can read our detailed Annual Report for 2023 by going to SanDiegoDAannualReport.com or visit SanDiegoDA.com and click on 2023 Annual Report.
San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan joined our team at One Safe Place: The North County Family Justice Center to honor Sheriff Kelly Martinez and the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department with the “Cops of the Quarter” Award last week. The honored team members pictured have shown valor, compassion and dedication in service to our survivors of domestic violence, child abuse, elder abuse, sexual assault and human trafficking.
The awardees included Captain Kevin Ralph and the SDSO San Marcos substation, deputies, detectives and crime prevention specialists that have truly gone above and beyond every day, giving our survivors a voice and ensuring that every effort is made to bring them hope, healing and justice.
The SDSO teams have been a vital part of the collaborative efforts with our law enforcement partners at One Safe Place and we are thankful for their support to our survivors and staff.
Please join us in congratulating the following honorees:
To learn more about One Safe Place, click here.
San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan said today that the no cost haircut service at One Safe Place: The North County Family Justice Center continues to be a success and is just one of many resources at the center available to victims of violence and abuse. Haircuts are provided at One Safe Place by volunteer hairdressers from local salons in the county.
“The idea behind providing this service is to empower and lift up those who are emerging from abusive or violent situations,” DA Stephan said. “Something as seemingly small as a haircut can help build confidence and self-esteem when taking on new independence in their lives, going to a job interview or just wanting a change to signify their past is not defining their future. We are grateful to the volunteers who provide this wonderful service and precious time to help those in need.”
[WATCH a video about the No Cost Haircuts at One Safe Place, HERE]
The small salon is attached to the Dress to Thrive Boutique, a space within One Safe Place where non-profit partners provide no cost emergency clothing in all sizes for families escaping abuse and for those in need.
“Many folks who come through our doors are coming on their most broken day or escaping abuse or violence in the home. They’ve been told what they can and can’t do, including what their hair should and should not look like,” said Tracy Prior, Chief Deputy DA and Chief Operating Officer of One Safe Place. “This is a place where they can choose for themselves an item of clothing to wear, or how they want to wear their hair or to simply gain confidence to take on a new independence in their lives.”
Since the opening of One Safe Place in July 2022, there have been more than 90 no cost haircuts given to guests thanks to several volunteer hairdressers who provide the service once a week. Debbie Duran from Top of the Line Cuts in Vista is one of them because she wanted to give back to One Safe Place.
“They helped me with my daughter, so now I feel like I need to help these kids and make them smile and come out with a haircut,” Duran said. “After I leave here doing everybody’s hair, I feel good, because I see these kids or their parents walking out with a smile. I can relate to where they’re coming from because I can tell them that my kids experienced trauma but were helped, and it makes them feel better knowing that they can go forward in life.”
Amy, who recently moved from out of state after a family tragedy, came to One Safe Place in search of services to help her and her three children get back on their feet. This haircut service was just one of the many resources that they received.
“It’s a confidence booster, it makes you feel good about yourself, you look clean-cut and you’re ready to take on the school year,” Amy said about the haircuts her three teenage children got at One Safe Place. “From the moment that we walked in and found out about all the services available and the support that is provided to moms and children, I literally told the person who I met with at first that I had felt so alone up until that moment.”
The volunteer hairdressers who make this service possible at One Safe Place include:
Maria Templeton, who owns Elements Salon in San Marcos, Amanda Roush with Lash Beauty Bar in Wildomar, Debbie Duran from Top of the Line Cuts in Vista, and Chanelle Simpson with Utopia Style Lounge in Encinitas.
One Safe Place, located in San Marcos, provides free support services to anyone who has experienced family violence, child abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence, hate crimes, elder abuse, human trafficking, violent loss, or other crimes. Child and adult victims of abuse and their families can walk through the doors and receive acute crisis-care, forensic medical exams, advocacy, counseling and therapy, legal services such as restraining orders, connections to a safe shelter and housing, long term mentoring, workforce readiness, clothing, and educational opportunities all under one roof.