Family Advocacy Program

Each branch of Services has a Family Advocacy Program designed to prevent and treat child and spouse abuse. These programs are operated in accordance with DoD Directive 6400.1, Family Advocacy Program, and are designed to prevent child and spouse abuse, to promote early identification and intervention in cases of alleged child and spouse abuse, and provide programs of rehabilitation and treatment for child and spouse abuse problems. To the maximum extent possible, DoD cooperates with responsible civilian authorities in efforts to address the problems to which this Directive applies. Each branch of Service maintains a central registry containing data on reports of alleged child and spouse abuse.

If more than one child is a victim of sexual abuse in an out-of-home care setting, DoD may convene a multidisciplinary team of specially trained personnel to provide technical assistance. Technical assistance may include law enforcement investigations, forensic medical examinations, forensic mental health examinations, and victim assistance to the victim and family.

Equal Opportunity Program

DoD Directive 1350.2, "Department of Defense Military Equal Opportunity (MEO) Program", establishes a system of discrimination complaint processing and resolution for all forms of unlawful discrimination and sexual harassment. Under DoD policy, the chain of command is responsible for creating and maintaining an environment to ensure that human relations and equal opportunity matters are taken seriously and to correct discriminatory practices. This includes the processing and resolving of complaints of unlawful discrimination and sexual harassment. It also provides for the training of all military personnel on how the complaint system functions and the protection against reprisal it affords individuals making complaints.

Navy's Sexual Assault Victim Intervention Program (SAVIP)

The Navy SAVIP was established in 1994, as a comprehensive, standardized, victim-sensitive system response to sexual assault. The program provides sexual assault awareness and preventive education programs; victim advocacy and intervention services; and collects accurate data on sexual assault in the Navy. There are 28 SAVIP Coordinators working in 26 Family Service Centers.

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