Betty Griffin Center

Betty Griffin Center is the only certified center for St. Johns County to provide quality services, at no cost, to survivors of domestic and sexual violence.

Our Vision: Peace at home...and then in the world. 

Our Mission: To help survivors of domestic and sexual violence navigate 
through their life-changing traumas to live fulfilling lives on their terms. 

Our Values: Protect, Educate, Advocate, Collaborate, Empower

Whether we’re providing emergency shelter, sexual assault recovery services, confidential counseling, assisting survivors in navigating the legal system or in their transition into a new life, donors like you are part of our team – and making a positive impact each day in the lives of many in our community.

A Survivor's Story

I am a mother. I am a manager. And today, I am a homeowner. But a year ago, I walked into this shelter because I was in an abusive relationship. Leaving was not simple. It came with court dates, legal battles, financial pressure, and emotional exhaustion that I would not wish on anyone. There were days I felt so low that I questioned how much more I could take. The hardest part wasn’t me. It was my girls. They worried about things children should never worry about.

When we arrived at the shelter, I didn’t feel powerful. I felt embarrassed. I felt overwhelmed. I felt like I had failed. What this shelter gave me was not just a place to sleep. It gave me a year. A full year where my daughters were safe. A full year to breathe without fear sitting in my chest. And in that year, something shifted. It wasn’t only the safety. It was the stability. Because when you remove chaos, growth becomes possible.

And step by step, things changed. Not overnight. But steadily. Because I was given time to rebuild instead of constantly recover. And today… because I was given that one year of stability…

I bought a home for my daughters. My girls now sleep in rooms that are permanent. They walk into a house that feels safe. They see their mother standing — not surviving — but leading.

Sometimes the most powerful thing you can give someone is not advice. It is not sympathy. It is not even motivation. It is time. Because when a mother is given time and safety… She does not just recover. She rises. And when she rises, her children rise with her.

And one day, those children will grow up knowing this: Their mother did not stay. She did not quit. She did not let fear define their future. She walked into a shelter with nothing but determination… And she walked out building a legacy.