Family Advocacy Center

Family Advocacy Center

A family justice center model for partners offering advocacy for legal, law enforcement and medical linkage to care.

Located: 317 N. Washington Street

Hendersonville, NC 28739

Contact the Family Advocacy Center

The Family Advocacy Center (FAC) is an affiliated Family Justice Center whose staff work to empower, educate and counsel adult victims in Henderson County with legal and court room advocacy. Professionals from different disciplines work together to provide consolidated and coordinated safety, legal, and social services to individuals and families in need. Our FAC is also a resource for community outreach and education throughout Henderson County.

Advocates empower, educate, and counsel survivors through emotional support within medical, court, child welfare and other systems of care.
Survivor Advocacy for hearings
Assistance in filing protection orders
Safety planning
Talking to law enforcement and district attorney’s office
Response to area hospitals for support and advocacy after a domestic or sexual violence incident.
Legal professionals assisting with legal questions and issues
Case management support with referrals to resources in the community

Legal Advocacy

Empowers, educates, and counsels with onsite attorney victims in Henderson County with legal and court room advocacy. Working to provide consolidated and coordinated safety, legal, and human services to individuals and families in need.

Pisgah Legal Is on-site to provide legal support for survivors.

Law Enforcement Advocacy and Accompaniment

Our law enforcement advocacy includes the Lethality Assessment Program (LAP)- For local law enforcement to help reduce intimate partner homicide, increase victim safety and enhance collaboration in our community

Safelight works with local law enforcement to link survivors to our supportive resources even faster as we partner with Fletcher Police Department, Hendersonville Police Department, Laurel Park Police Department, and the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office through LAP. The LAP partnership began in 2022 through the North Carolina Department of Justice.

The Lethality Assessment Program (LAP) is an evidenced based model supported by the U.S. Department of Justice to provide a standard of practice to reduce intimate partner homicide, increase victim safety and enhance collaboration in our community. The purpose is to save lives by connecting victims to community-based services, holding the abuser accountable, and creating awareness of lethality factors for victims in our community. The first responding law enforcement officer immediately connects the victim to the Safelight hotline for emergency safety planning and enhanced service provision. This helps Safelight staff to respond, assess, and connect survivors to our advocates with resources for our programs and services.

Safelight also provides law enforcement with stuffed black bears to keep in their vehicles to give out to children who have experienced or witnessed domestic/interpersonal violence or abuse.

Adult Forensics

24/7 Safelight advocate and Blue Ridge Health forensic medical provider will respond within 1-2 hours to collect an evidence kit at Safelight after a sexual assault or violence incident. Our advocates also available for hospital accompaniment as well.

Opened in 2025, as a community location for 24/7 onsite forensic examinations with a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) available at no cost to survivors and does not require law enforcement reporting. Survivors can access a comprehensive system of care to address all emotional, legal, and medical needs.

Safelight provides ongoing advocacy, education and emotional support to survivors of violence, rape and sexual assault. We coordinate with legal assistance, mental health and other services.

Serves any local survivor.
24/7 on call scheduling care.
Survivors of violence or abuse access support services with a trained Safelight advocate. Advocates can link in law enforcement at survivor’s request.
Expert Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) does forensic evidence collection in a private, confidential, and safe location onsite at Safelight.
Process includes obtaining consent for examination, client interview, examination and forensic evidence collection that can be used in prosecution, discharge/follow up.

The only free-standing, community-based violence or sexual assault forensic examination center in Henderson County. Safelight provides wrap-around care for victims and survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Since 2025, providing expert, compassionate care at no cost to the survivor. Our forensic nurses and response advocates provide forensic exams and emotional support in a safe, calm and supportive setting. Crisis counselors and case managers provide advocacy, education, and therapeutic support, and coordinate legal assistance and mental health counseling. Survivors receive care from specially trained providers who deeply understand their journey and who offer a seamless continuum of services as needed. This holistic approach is essential for helping survivors heal and feel supported.

Who our Acute Forensic Program Serves

All ages who need our services for forensic collection. For those 16 and under, we coordinate with our child advocacy center.

Our Forensic Services

Specialized forensic care and advocacy
Forensic evidence collection is ideally within 7 days (168 hours) of incident
Forensic exams can be performed and evidence stored anonymously until the survivor decides they are ready to report to law enforcement.
Crisis intervention services
Connection with case manager for immediate and long-term support, such as support groups, safety planning and community referrals
Referrals for follow-up care and assistance with medication

Long-Term Support for Survivors

Support and referrals around medical and mental health care
Assistance with reporting to law enforcement and support/advocacy through the investigation and potential court processes
Obtaining protective orders and legal assistance
Access to housing, food and other essential services
Support and advocacy services are available even if the survivor decides not to proceed with the forensic exam

What to Expect During a Acute Forensics Visit

Upon arrival, survivors receive confidential support from a medical forensic examiner (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner SANE) and an Advocate. The process may include:

Medical history review and assessment
Evidence collection, including swabs for DNA samples, injury assessment, and collection of clothing
Forensic photography (if applicable)
Discharge planning, education, and follow-up support resources
Support in reporting to law enforcement (if the survivor chooses)
Access to a private bathroom, shower, and fresh clothing

To Schedule an Acute Forensics Appointment

Call 828-693-3840 to schedule an appointment. Trained staff are available 24/7 to provide support and assistance.
Survivors may be referred to us by local emergency departments or local law enforcement
Services are available at no cost to survivors, regardless of where the assault occurred

Camp Hope America

Helps children and youth ages 7-14 find pathways to hope and healing through an annual weeklong overnight summer camp experience, and monthly Pathways events.

The mission of Camp HOPE Henderson County is to help children in our community who have been exposed to violence find pathways to HOPE and healing. Camp HOPE includes Pathways, a year-round program with monthly activities and group mentorship, and a weeklong residential camp experience. In this program, we praise campers for the person they are becoming; see their character for who they are and believe in what they can accomplish. The goal is to create an atmosphere where youth can feel safe, seen, heard, encouraged and cared for.

Thank you to our annual sponsors: