Shawndell Dawson

Director, Office of Family Violence and Prevention Services (OFVPS)

Shawndell N. Dawson is the director of the Office of Family Violence Prevention and Services (OFVPS) at the Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which addresses domestic violence as a public health issue and strives to partner with the continuum of social service agencies families often turn to for help.  

Dawson is responsible for leading the administration of the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA), which is the primary federal funding source for states, territories and tribes providing shelter and supportive services for domestic violence survivors and their children. She is also tasked with leading the implementation of $1 billion in American Rescue Plan (ARP) supplemental funding for sexual assault programs, domestic violence programs, culturally specific organizations, and organizations serving underserved populations.

Dawson has more than 28 years of experience working on local, state, and national levels as an advocate for children, youth, and families experiencing domestic violence, intimate partner violence, and trauma.  She began her federal career in 2010, as Senior Program Specialist for the FVPSA Program, managing training, technical assistance, research, and inter-agency collaborations with more than 15 federal agencies addressing systemic responses to domestic violence.

Prior to joining the federal service, Dawson worked for state domestic violence coalitions and national organizations, coordinating community responses to domestic violence, offering technical consultation to domestic violence programs, and serving as a trainer and public educator. During her career, she has worked for the DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the Ohio Domestic Violence Network, and the National Network to End Domestic Violence.  Dawson began her career as a victim advocate, where she provided legal advocacy and court accompaniment for adult and child victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.  Dawson’s policy expertise includes serving as the Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) Policy Manager, where she worked in partnership with all three of FYSB’s programs to assess the implementation of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act, Family Violence Prevention and Services Act, and Title V of the Social Security Act.