Rep. McBride Highlights Federal Investment for Delaware’s First Family Justice Centers

GEORGETOWN, Del. - Today, U.S. Representative Sarah McBride (D-Del.) highlighted the $2.6 million in federal funding she secured to help establish Delaware's first Family Justice Centers and toured one of the future sites at the Stockley Center Campus in Georgetown. Photos from the visit can be found here.

The federal investment will support the development of a coordinated, survivor-centered model that brings legal assistance, counseling, law enforcement support, and advocacy services into one location - reducing barriers for survivors of domestic violence and related crimes. By centralizing services, the Family Justice Center model is designed to improve survivor safety, strengthen accountability, and deliver more effective support for individuals and families in crisis. The federal dollars will be used for the Georgetown site in Sussex County and two additional sites in New Castle County.

"Survivors shouldn't have to recount their stories over and over," said Rep. McBride."Family Justice Centers deliver a centralized hub where safety, resources, and services come together for neighbors in crisis. I am proud to have worked alongside Senators Coons and Blunt Rochester to secure this federal funding, and to bring together partners at the federal and state levels to ensure survivors get the support they need without unnecessary barriers across our state."

The Georgetown site will repurpose an underutilized state facility to house one of the Family Justice Centers, helping ensure that Delawareans can access critical services in a single, accessible location. The project reflects coordination between federal, state, and local partners to deliver tangible support to survivors while strengthening community safety.

Family Justice Centers are a proven, nationally recognized model that bring together legal, medical, counseling, and law enforcement resources under one roof. This approach reduces the need for survivors to navigate multiple agencies or repeatedly recount traumatic experiences, improving outcomes while lowering long-term public costs.

"This is a monumental moment for Delaware and for survivors across our state," said Emella Kamara, Executive Director for the Delaware Family Justice Centers. "Congresswoman McBride's leadership brings us closer to a statewide network of Family Justice Centers, where individuals can access coordinated, trauma-informed services in one safe place. This investment is more than funding for a building, it's an investment in safety, healing, and hope. We are deeply grateful for her partnership in turning this vision into reality."

During the visit, Rep. McBride joined stakeholders and state and local leaders, including State Representative Krista Griffith, who, alongside State Senator Nicole Poore, sponsored legislation in the Delaware General Assembly that paved the way for the creation of Family Justice Centers in Delaware. The site tour and stakeholder conversation focused on how the federal investment will translate into services on the ground and the role coordinated care can play in breaking cycles of violence and ensuring survivors are met with dignity, safety, and meaningful, community-based support.

Rep. McBride secured the $2.6 million federal investment through the Community Project Funding process, which was part of a year-long process in which Rep. McBride's office received and reviewed applications for vital community projects across Delaware. Rep. McBride secured funding for all 15 of her requests, totaling over $19 million in federal funding for Delaware, through the Fiscal Year 2026 Appropriations process.

Photos from the visit can be found here.

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