What region or area do you provide services in?

The Center for Family Safety and Healing is part of Nationwide Children’s Hospital and is located on the main campus in downtown Columbus. We typically serve families from central Ohio and surrounding areas. Although we have had families travel from out-of-state (West Virginia, Indiana) to receive treatment services such as ongoing counseling.

We have recently opened a secondary Adult Services location closer to Delaware County to better serve our community.

How and when did the organization get started?
The Columbus Coalition Against Family Violence (CCAFV) started in 1998 with a focus on education in the community about the issue of family violence. The office for the CCAFV was located in administration at Children’s Hospital. A research study by the Urban Institute indicated that the best way to connect to the community was to provide education. CCAFV developed community task forces in the areas of faith, employers, legal, healthcare, victim services, and public education. The work of the victim services task force work together with the hospital to build a building in 2005, which is located on the campus of Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

In 2011, the Center for Child and Family Advocacy at Nationwide Children’s (founded in 2002) and the Columbus Coalition Against Family Violence (founded in 1998) merged into one organization, becoming The Center for Family Safety and Healing. This allowed us to combine the strengths of both organizations to form one integrated team powerful enough to help break the cycle of family violence.

How many volunteers does your organization use?
The Volunteer Program at TCFSH provides support to families and patients who are receiving services. Our volunteers set the tone for a positive experience by providing children with an outlet for their anxieties through play. Time spent playing with children, directing their time, and engaging them in activities sets the stage for a good experience during their appointment. In 2019, 38 volunteers provided 1,266 direct service hours.