Casey Gwinn is the President and Co-Founder of the National Family Justice Center Alliance. Casey is also the visionary behind the Family Justice Center Movement, first proposing the concept of the Family Justice Center model in 1989. He is a national expert on domestic violence, including prosecution, strangulation, and best practices. Prior to this position, Casey was the elected San Diego City Attorney.
Gwinn, working with fellow prosecutor Gael Strack, began adding on-site partner agencies in the San Diego City Attorney’s Office in 1990. In 1991, Gwinn founded the San Diego Domestic Violence Council and served as its first president until 1999.
The collaborative approach in the San Diego City Attorney’s Office, which began after Gwinn’s proposal for multi-agency center was rejected in 1989, gained national attention in 1993 when his Child Abuse/Domestic Violence Unit was profiled as a model for the nation by the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. Later in 1993, Gwinn’s work was profiled on “NOW” with Tom Brokaw and Katie Couric on NBC.
In 1996, Gwinn was elected San Diego City Attorney, and in 2002 led the creation of the multi-agency San Diego Family Justice Center serving victims of domestic violence and their children. There are now more than 100 Family Justice Centers across the United States as well as centers in more than 20 countries around the world. Family Justice Centers have been identified as a “best practice” in helping domestic violence victims and their children.
In 2013, Gwinn developed a statewide model for Camp HOPE California, bringing children exposed to domestic violence to camp from across the state. 2015, Camp HOPE America went nationwide under Gwinn’s leadership. In 2018, Camp HOPE America operates in 18 states.
Gwinn has published or co-published ten books since 2006. Cheering for the Children: Creating Pathways to HOPE for Children Exposed to Trauma and Abuse (2015), contends that childhood trauma is the number one public health issue in the country.
Casey Gwinn’s keynote on Thursday, September 12 will be based on his latest bestselling book HOPE Rising: How the Science of HOPE Can Change Your Life, which calls for the end of shame and blame in addressing the struggles of those who have experienced trauma, illness, or abuse, and provides practical ways to increase your Hope.