Cobb District Attorney Joyette M. Holmes and Kennesaw State University’s WellStar College of Health and Human Services have created a crime victims counseling clinic.

The program is for the victims of felonies.

According to a news release from Kim Isaza, the Public Information Officer for the DA’s office, “A Victims of Crime Act Grant of nearly $50,000, provided by the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) through the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia, will allow KSU Alumni from the Master of Social Work program, and masters level students, to offer individual and group therapy to people affected by property and other violent crimes for whom few free counseling support options currently exist.”

“Other community partners serve special populations of victims, such as domestic violence and sexual assault and those who have lost loved ones to homicide,” said Kimberly McCoy, Director of the Victim Witness Assistance Unit in the DA’s Office. “But many victims of property crimes, for example, are traumatized by the perpetrator’s invasion of their privacy, yet are unable to obtain any help due to the limited availability of state resources for these crimes. These victims also deserve our assistance and trauma-informed response.”

“This innovative strategic partnership allows KSU and the WellStar College to create community impact with their alumni and students, by offering counseling services in an arena that currently doesn’t exist,” said Monica Nandan, Director of Strategic Partnerships and Social Impact at KSU.

Mark Tillman, Dean of the WellStar College, said, “The WellStar College of Health and Human Services is proud to be a part of this creative initiative — Cobb DA-WellStar College Clinic. This grant provides our graduates (Bekah Tchouta and Karen Ake) an opportunity to practice and students an opportunity to learn through engagement with community behavioral health services.”

The focus will be on victims with limited resources, but any victim may call to discuss eligibility for the program.

Counseling sessions to be offered free of charge to victims eligible for the program..

For appointments, call 770-528-3047.

The news release also offered contact numbers for the following resources:

Victims of domestic violence, intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and elder abuse are encouraged to seek assistance through liveSAFE Resources, Inc., by calling 770-427-3390.

SafePath Children’s Advocacy Center offers assistance to victims of child sexual and physical abuse. SafePath’s telephone is 770-801-3465.

Surviving family members of homicide victims may contact the Crime Victims’ Advocacy Council at 770-333-9254 for assistance.