DeKalb County leaders break ground on a new center that will provide assistance to victims of sex trafficking, child abuse, sexual abuse, and domestic violence.

The Family Protection Center, the first of its kind in metro Atlanta, will be housed on the first floor of DeKalb’s Fire and Rescue in Tucker.

“The idea behind the Family Protection Center is that you take as many as these resources together as possible; they call it a one-stop shop,” says DeKalb County District Attorney Robert James.

The idea was first envisioned eight years ago between the district attorney’s office and the Georgia Center for Child Advocacy.  Due to several different circumstances, it didn’t happen until now.

“As long as it took, it shows we, as a family in DeKalb County, are committed to doing the rights things where our most vulnerable are concerned,” says DeKalb interim CEO Lee May.

Victims of crimes can receive counseling services, forensic interviews, and other assistance in safe and secure environment.

The center is the culmination of work of at least a dozen local and state agencies.