CED DCL Domestic Violence Awareness Month

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Administration for Children and Families
Office of Community Services
Division of State Assistance
370 L'Enfant Promenade, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20447

/programs/ocs/programs/ced

Community Economic Development
Dear Colleague Letter

Re: Domestic Violence Awareness Month:  Opportunities for Prevention and Action

Date: October 22, 2014

Dear Colleagues:

The purpose of this Dear Colleague Letter is to provide Community Economic Development (CED) and CED-Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) grantees and partners with information about domestic violence awareness resources because CED/HFFI grantees and partners have an important role in helping families struggling with domestic violence.  This Dear Colleague Letter is released in partnership with the Family and Youth Services Bureau, Division of Family Violence Prevention and Services, celebrating 30 years as the primary federal funding stream for domestic violence shelters, supportive services, and the national domestic violence hotline (www.acf.hhs.gov/fvpsa).

 

Statistics show that 1 in 4 women have been the victim of severe physical violence by an intimate partner, while 1 in 7 men have experienced the same (e.g., hit with a fist or something hard, beaten, slammed against something) at some point in their lifetime.[1]  Federal programs, supported by the Administration for Children and Families, help provide life-saving services and supports to victims of domestic violence and their children.  Efforts to eliminate poverty, increase self-sufficiency of individuals and families, and revitalize communities are directly related to the prevention and reduction of domestic violence.  Here are some key facts:

 

§  Domestic violence is the third leading cause of homelessness among families in the U.S.[2]

§  47% of homeless school-aged children and 29% of homeless children under five have witnessed domestic violence in their families.[3]

§  Many adults first experience violence as children. Millions of children and adolescents are exposed to violence in their homes, schools, and communities, as both victims and witnesses, each year in the United States.[4]

§  Women and men who experienced food and housing insecurity in the past 12 months reported a significantly higher 12-month prevalence of rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner compared to women and men who did not experience food and housing insecurity.[5]

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, which is recognized by advocates, service providers, and communities all across the United States.  This October, we invite you to stand with concerned citizens, service providers, and domestic violence survivors to inform your organization’s employees and partners about what they can do to end domestic violence, to prevent violence, and to celebrate the advancement of community responses.  This October represents an opportunity to ensure that health and human service providers supported by the Office of Community Services (OCS) have the capacity to:

• Recognize the impact of domestic violence;
• Respond effectively with trauma-informed strategies; and
• Safely link families to domestic violence services.

 

CED/HFFI grantees are positioned to help prevent and respond to domestic violence, in part because of our anti-poverty mission and our community-level engagement nationwide.  By supporting families and individuals at risk of or currently experiencing domestic violence, we can give these families a better chance to break the cycle of poverty and find a better future.

 

Opportunities for Prevention and Action

CED/HFFI grantees can take steps today to support families impacted by domestic violence.

 

Connect Victims of Domestic Violence to Services

CED/HFFI grantees should make every effort to assist families and children who are experiencing domestic violence by sharing national, state and local hotline numbers for local domestic violence intervention programs, either directly or posting in public spaces that are frequented by staff and families.  CED/HFFI grantees are encouraged to share this information with their partners, for example, by distributing the domestic violence resources listed below so organizations may share with their provider networks.  Knowing who to call when a safety plan is needed is important to reducing the fear and isolation for families impacted by domestic violence.

National Hotlines

Free and confidential help is available for victims of domestic violence 24 hours a day. These hotlines can help victims of domestic violence and sexual violence find support and assistance in their communities:

• National Domestic Violence Hotline   - 1-800-799-7233
• National Dating Abuse Helpline  - 1-866-331-9474
• National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN)  - 1-800-656-4673

 

Partner with Community Based Domestic Violence Programs

Domestic Violence Awareness Month provides a great time for CED/HFFI grantees to develop or reinvest in community partnerships with domestic violence providers that have expertise in helping victims of domestic violence. Investing in meaningful training and technical assistance partnerships is critical to supporting the families that are accessing CED/HFFI projects. Domestic violence coalitions, local domestic violence shelter programs, tribal domestic violence programs, and culturally specific community based organizations are an integral part of any coordinated health care and social service response to domestic violence.

 

To meet the needs of adults and children experiencing domestic violence, CED/HFFI grantees can partner with organizations such as state domestic violence coalitions, local domestic violence and sexual assault service programs, shelter programs, transitional and long-term housing assistance providers, and/or batterers’ intervention programs. These providers may offer direct services to families and children or important in-service trainings that could be developed specifically to address how domestic violence impacts the families accessing CED/HFFI projects.

 

Each State, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa, has a FVPSA funded Domestic Violence Coalition. These coalitions are connected to more than 2,000 local domestic violence programs receiving FVPSA funding across this country.  Every Coalition provides comprehensive training and technical assistance on a multitude of social, legal, and economic issues that affect victims’ safety and well-being.  Coalitions partner with government, private industry, non-profit and faith-based communities, and other stakeholders to effectively coordinate and improve the safety-net of services available to victims and their dependents.

 

We encourage you to establish meaningful partnerships with domestic violence coalitions for training, problem solving service barriers, domestic violence assessment implementation, establishing referral protocols with local domestic violence programs, and featuring domestic violence discussions at upcoming conferences.

 

The domestic violence coalition working with programs in your community can be found at: www.vawnet.org .  Additional information about the Family Violence Prevention and Services Programs Domestic Violence Coalitions can be found at /fysb/programs/family-violence-prevention-serv....

 

Learn More About Domestic Violence Resources

We encourage all CED/HFFI grantees to ensure that every staff person visits an online domestic violence resource center, and/or participate in domestic violence training, or an awareness event this October.

 

Domestic Violence: Understanding the Basics , is an online learning tool developed by FVPSA grantee, the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence  and VAWnet , the National Online Resource Center on Violence Against Women. This 1-hour interactive eLearning module describes the dynamics and common tactics that characterize domestic violence, provides an overview of the scope and impact on individuals and society, explores the underlying factors that allow domestic violence to exist, offers insight into the various risks and choices that survivors face, and shares how to be part of the solution.  Divided into 10 sections that address common questions related to domestic violence, this self-guided online course will help new advocates, allied professionals, students, volunteers and the general public achieves a basic understanding of the complexities of this issue.

 

Additional Online Domestic Violence Resources

§  Promising Futures Without Violence developed by FVPSA grantee Futures Without Violence, is an online resource center for best practices for serving children, youth and parents experiencing domestic violence.  This website houses evidence-based interventions, program models, training curriculum and tools focused on safe services that build resilience and competence in children and parents impacted by domestic violence. http://promising.futureswithoutviolence.org/

§  The Domestic Violence Evidence Project developed by FVPSA grantee the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence  houses a comprehensive evidence review of domestic violence core services, programs, and innovative practices. http://www.dvevidenceproject.org

§  Trauma-Informed Domestic Violence Services (Part 1 , Part 2 , Part 3 ) is a 3-part VAWnet Special Collection Series reflecting an integrated perspective that incorporates an understanding of the pervasiveness and impact of trauma; supports healing and resiliency; and addresses the root causes of abuse and violence. This Special Collection was developed by FVPSA grantees the National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma & Mental Health in partnership with the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence . http://www.vawnet.org/special-collections/DVTraumaInformed-Overview

 

Culturally Specific Resources

There is a national network of organizations that address the impact of domestic violence and implement culturally relevant trauma-informed services for ethnic and racially specific communities. These organizations work to increase access to services through training and technical assistance (such as statewide service implementation and language access planning); produce culturally relevant tools for advocates and practitioners; conduct culturally relevant research; and strengthen partnerships between culturally specific organizations and mainstream service providers.

 

§  Institute on Domestic Violence in the African American Community, www.idvaac.org   

§  Casa de Esperanza: National Latin@ Network of Healthy Families and Communities, https://casadeesperanza.org/what-we-do/fuel-a-national-movement/

§  Asian and Pacific Islander Institute on Domestic Violence, www.apiidv.org

§  Women of Color Network, www.wocninc.org

 

National and Special Issue Domestic Violence Resources

There is a national network of organizations that address the impact of domestic violence and dating violence within specific issue areas such as health, mental health, substance abuse, child protection, and legal services.   These organizations work to increase access to services through training and technical assistance; produce tools for advocates and practitioners; conduct research; and partner with agencies to increase their overall capacity to support individuals and families impacted by domestic violence.

 

§  National Resource Center on Domestic Violence, www.nrcdv.org and www.vawnet.org

§  National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center, www.niwrc.org

§  National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma, and Mental Health, www.nationalcenterdvtraumamh.org

§  National Health Resource Center on Domestic Violence, www.futureswithoutviolence.org

§  Resource Center on Domestic Violence, Child Protection and Custody, www.ncjfcj.org/dept/fvd

§  Battered Women’s Justice Project: Criminal and Civil Justice Center, www.bwjp.org

 

October 28, 2014 — 1:30-3:00EST:Webinar on Addressing the Intersection of Domestic Violence & Poverty

The Office of Community Services and the Family Violence Prevention and Services Program will host a webinar to share information on the intersection of poverty, domestic violence and economic security. Important considerations will be highlighted that can be enormously helpful to domestic violence survivors, including strategies to strengthen the safety net for survivors in need. Resources will be shared about financial literacy curriculum for survivors, an asset building toolkit, credit repair, and economic empowerment. Register for this webinar at the following link: https://bwjp.ilinc.com/register/rkrsswf

 

 

We all know that collective action is needed to ensure appropriate responses and support for all families struggling with domestic violence. It is important for all ACF programs to partner with individuals, families, and communities to end domestic violence.  This October is brings opportunities to not only build on the Department of Health and Human Services’ 30-year legacy of partnering with communities to address domestic violence through the implementation of the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act, but also to forge stronger partnerships that focus on building futures without violence for the thousands of families we serve every day.

 

 

Thank you for your dedication and commitment to supporting children and families.

 

 

Jeannie L. Chaffin                                              Lynda Perez
Director                                                              Division of Community Discretionary Programs
Office of Community Services                            Office of Community Services

 

 

If you have questions about this Dear Colleague Letter, please contact your assigned OCS CED program specialist or FYSB directly. The list of OCS staff and contact information are posted on the OCS website at /ocs/contacts-for-ced-grantees.

 

 

FYSB/DFVPS REFERENCE

Marylouise Kelley, PhD., Director

Family Violence Prevention & Services Program

Family & Youth Services Bureau

Administration for Children and Families

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

www.acf.hhs.gov/fvpsa