A local businessman is financing a major upgrade to the Tulsa Family Safety Center

TULSA, OKLA (KTUL) — The Tulsa Family Safety Center just received a $2.4 million donation from a local businessman.

This includes the construction of a new FSC facility that will provide services to victims of domestic violence and others.

Suzann Stewart of the FSC says the reason for the relocation is the high number of domestic violence and sexual assault cases and the current facility is inadequate for them to handle the volume.

The Center for Family Safety provides services to victims of domestic violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, elder abuse and human trafficking.

“We offer a variety of services on site so we can help victims and survivors with any needs and resources they may need to stay safe,” said Suzann Stewart, CEO of Family Safety Center of Tulsa.

Stewart says Oklahoma has the second highest number of domestic violence cases in the nation.

According to Stewart, Tulsa leads the state in domestic homicides and domestic violence.

“The Tulsa Police Department will receive approximately 22,000 calls per year through 9-1-1 regarding domestic violence incidents, of which it will investigate perhaps as many as 12,000 to 13,000,” Stewart said.

Of the number of domestic violence cases TPD investigates, Stewart says as many as 7,500 of them may be referred to the district attorney for potential criminal prosecution.

He says these numbers are staggering compared to Tulsa’s population.

“It’s a matter of how many people report, right? We want people to report these incidents. We want them to come and seek help. So I’m not convinced that there is more domestic violence, as much as I am convinced that the more we talk about the availability of services and resources that people can go to for help in this situation, the more people will come and ask for help,” Stewart said.

Suzann Stewart of FSC says that in light of this significant donation, they will be renaming the new center the Case Family Safety Center – in honor of donors Mike Case and his wife Pat.

Stewart says the earlier we start teaching children about healthy relationships, the better we will be at preventing future incidents of domestic violence and family violence.

A list of free and confidential Family Safety Center services can be found on the website website.

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