HONORING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH

Dear Colleagues,

This October offers us anopportunity to celebrate the strength of this Nation’s response to domesticviolence and dating violence. Our partnerships on local, state, federal, andnational levels have led to the continued evolution of specialized andcomprehensive services reflecting survivors’ diverse needs. All month, theFamily Violence Prevention and Services Program (FVPSA Program) will honor theresiliency and courage of families struggling to move forward in the face ofdevastating violence, trauma, abuse, and homicide. We will also honor domesticviolence advocates’ tenacity, courage, and commitment to lifting up survivorsvoices, empowering them in whatever ways are necessary, and giving their all tohelp survivors have better lives in the future.

This year we willcelebrate programming advancements by proudly promoting resources, tools, andinterventions developed by researchers, practitioners, and the advocacycommunity that are evidence-informed, trauma-informed and culturally specific.On October 25^th we will unveil two national resources createdto help those serving families impacted by domestic violence to thoughtfullycontribute to and learn from broader conversations related to evidence-informedpractice.

This October, we invite you to continue to stand with concernedcitizens, service providers, and domestic violence survivors to inform thepublic about what they can do to end intimate partner violence, to preventviolence, to mourn those who have lost their lives, and to celebrate theadvancement of community responses. We have worked in partnership with ourgrantees and our colleagues to plan several Federal awareness events that willhighlight diverse programming, expand our knowledge base, and promoteinnovative practices. We invite you to participate in a number of events takingplace this month, including:

·       October 2^nd National Call for Unity - the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence will host a45-minute national call during which we'll hear from survivors, advocates,national experts, and government officials working to end domestic and sexualviolence.

·       October 9^th HHS’s Bridging the Gap: Screening andCounseling for Intimate Partner Violence in Health Care Settings –  The HHS Steering Committee on Violence Against Womenand the Coordinating Committee on Women’s Health invite you to an event in theGreat Hall of the Humphrey Building on October 9^th or viawebcast.  This event will focus on encouraging a comprehensive health careresponse to victims of domestic violence.

·        October 15^th Engaging Men BlogTalkRadio – Casa de Esperanza’s National Latina Network for Healthy Familieswill present strategies and practical tools to involve men in ending domesticand sexual violence.

·       October 25^th Continuum of DV Evidence Webinar -The FVPSA Program, National Resource Center on DomesticViolence, and Futures Without Violence will unveil two online resource centersthat were designed to help domestic violence advocates enhance theirprogramming for children and their parents as well as to enhance the domesticviolence field’s capacity to build upon the knowledge base supporting domestic violenceservices.

We know that the work ofFederal agencies is instrumental in creating support, expanding resources, andeliminating barriers for families impacted by domestic violence. Together, wehave built strong and innovative programs; we are continually inspired by thework of our colleagues and our grantees. On behalf of all the FVPSAProgram staff, I want to thank you for your work supporting domestic violencesurvivors and their children. We hope you will use this month as an opportunityto build your knowledge, strengthen partnerships, and reflect on ways youragency can incorporate domestic violence prevention and awareness into yourservices.

Sincerely,

MarylouiseKelley

Director

Family ViolencePrevention and Services Program

Administrationfor Children, Youth, & Families