Waterford ― Plans to create a family justice center, where “victims come first and professionals come together,” received a major boost Friday when the State Bond Commission approved $5 million for the center, according to the head of Safe Futures.

“This has been a dream for a very, very long time, and I’m just amazed that it’s happening,” said Safe Futures Chief Executive Officer Katherine Verano.

Verano said the funding will enable Safe Futures to begin construction within a year on The Center for Safe Futures to provide services all in one place and begin the public phase of its fundraising for the $8 million to $10 million project. Safe Futures is a nonprofit organization that helps people affected by domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and trafficking.

A group of about 15 supporters, Safe Futures staff, community members, state Reps. Holly Cheeseman, R-East Lyme, and Kathleen McCarty, R-Waterford, and Waterford First Selectman Rob Brule cheered Friday afternoon at the center’s future site, a former tree farm at 994 Hartford Turnpike, as Verano put a celebratory golden shovel in the ground.

Verano said victims often have to go place to place and tell their story over and over again to police, prosecutors, counselors, victims’ advocates and others.

Court cases can last up to two years, during which time a victim has to go through multiple steps and may also be taking care of children. With the new center, people won’t have to go multiple sites, and can get the services they need in one spot, Verano said.

“It’s a place where a victim can get absolutely all wrap-around services with all our community partners in one place, whether it’s for counseling, mental health, substance use, housing, absolutely everything,” she said.

Verano said people can come to the center for almost any reason, whether for services for their children or to talk to a prosecutor.

The name, The Center for Safe Futures, does not have any labels, which Verano said is important. Verano said in her work with victims over the past 30 years, many times after an arrest or an assault, victims will say they are not a victim of domestic violence, because it may take time to understand that they are and many victims blame themselves.

Verano said the family justice center will be a central location for communities in the region and along a bus route. The former tree farm is about 10.5 acres, said Ken Edwards, co-chair of the steering committee.

Verano said the organization will maintain a satellite office in New London and walk-in crisis centers in New London and Norwich, as well as provide advocates at Backus Hospital in Norwich.

Gregory Massad, president of Safe Futures’ Board of Directors and head of the site selection committee and now the building committee, said the funding is “a tremendous boost to our plan for the family justice center which will transform how domestic violence victims get the help and assistance that they need.”

Cheeseman, who serves on the Bond Commission, said she has been working on the bonding request for about a year. After learning of The Center for Safe Futures project, Cheeseman told Verano that she would “move heaven and earth” to get state funding because the project is incredibly worthy.

She said Safe Futures provides services to 21 municipalities in the region and the new center would be the third center in Connecticut modeled on Alliance for HOPE International’s Center for Family Justice.

“I felt it was certainly time that our part of the state had a similar resource,” said Cheeseman, adding that Gov. Ned Lamont also recognizes the importance of providing those needed services to victims of domestic violence.

McCarty congratulated Safe Futures: “It’s an exciting, wonderful day for Waterford and for the region, and it’s well needed.”

“This is money well spent by the state of Connecticut,” added McCarty, who said she advocated to the State Bond Commission and state Office of Policy and Management for the center and worked with her colleagues in the General Assembly to help bring the center to fruition. “This kind of project is so worthwhile and will help so many families and truly give them hope.”

In addition to the $5 million in state funding, a capital campaign has raised about $1.3 million, and Safe Futures will continue to raise funds and seek grants, Verano said.

k.drelich@theday.com