Local businessman funds major upgrade for Tulsa's Family Safety Center

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

This is for the construction of the new FSC facility that provides services to victims of domestic violence and others.

Suzann Stewart from the FSC says the reason for the new location is the high rates of domestic violence and sexual assault, and says their current facility is insufficient to cope with the numbers.

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

“We have a variety of different services here locally so we can help victims and survivors with all the needs and resources they need to stay safe,” said Suzann Stewart, the CEO of Family Safety Center, Tulsa.

Stewart says Oklahoma is number two nationally in the number of domestic violence incidents.

According to Stewart, Tulsa leads the state in a share of family and domestic violence homicides.

“The Tulsa Police Department will receive approximately 22,000 calls per year through 9-1-1 for domestic violence incidents and of those they may investigate as many as 12,000 to 13,000,” Stewart said.

Stewart says that of the number of domestic violence incidents TPD investigates, as many as 7,500 could go to the district attorney for possible criminal charges.

She says these numbers are staggering compared to the population of Tulsa.

“It’s about the number of people who report, right? And we want people to report these incidents. We want them to come in and get help. So I’m not as convinced that there is more domestic violence as I am convinced that the more we talk about the availability of services and the resources that people can access for help when they find themselves in these situations, the more people will come in and ask for help,” said Stewart.

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

Stewart says the sooner we start teaching children about healthy relationships, the better off we will be in preventing future incidents of domestic abuse and violence.

The Family Safety Center’s list of free and confidential services can be found on their website website.