Monroe County victim services care cottage offers support and protective order assistance

Officials say the care cottage provides therapy, advocacy, and help with TPOs for families navigating trauma.

MONROE COUNTY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT)- A resource in Monroe County is working to support victims and their families through trauma.

The Monroe County Care Cottage provides forensic interviews, therapy, and advocacy services in one location.

“One thing that makes victim services unique is that families can receive multiple services in one place so they don’t have to go from one place to another during an already stressful time,” said Ken Blandenburg, Lieutenant and Director of the Monroe County Victim Service Care Cottage.

The care cottage also helps people apply for temporary protective orders, or TPO’s, which can provide an extra level of protection.

“Typically people get TPO’s for dating violence, domestic violence, even if it’s bond conditions in order, and they want to have an extra level of protection they can come here to receive a TPO. Typically it takes one to two days to get that process started and completed,” said Blandenburg.

The process is handled case by case, and the cottage assists people throughout. They say last year alone, the cottage helped about 1,700 new people by mailing out new client intake forms, victim letters, and assisting with TPO’s.

Officials say they also partner with law enforcement, schools, and other community groups to support families through the process.

They emphasize the facility is not a shelter, but a resource for advocacy and support.