How is it June already?!

Dear Friends and Advocates,

June is LGBTQ Pride Month! DCADV is happy to share that we have updated our website, adding more LGBTQ resources and re-structuring the Help page to make it easier to find these resources. DCADV appreciates the input and guidance provided by the LGBTQ Sub-Committee of the Victims Rights Task Force! You can check out the updated website here: www.dcadv.org

May 6-7, DCADV held its 23rd annual Advocates’ Retreat and Conference in Rehoboth Beach. This two-day conference was an opportunity for DV advocates and community providers to network and share best practices. Many thanks to Courtney Winkler and DCADV’s staff for all their work in planning this two-day training! Please see more information about the conference below.

Speaking of Advocates, DCADV has been actively engaged in advocacy efforts this legislative session to share information that will enhance and protect the rights and safety of DV victims. Many thanks to our community partners for their collaborative work on this advocacy!

DCADV’s Director of Advocacy and Policy, Mariann Kenville-Moore, will be leaving the Coalition at the end of June. Mariann has been at the Coalition for over 12 years and has been passionate about protecting DV victims’ rights. Many thanks to Mariann for all her dedication and service and best wishes as she embarks upon a new adventure!

The new Director of Advocacy & Policy will be Deianna Tyree-McDuffy. Deianna is currently the Director of DV Services at CHILD Inc and has extensive experience within the DV field. She is a passionate advocate for DV survivors and program services. We are thrilled that Deianna is joining the DCADV staff team!

As we enter the summer months, I want to share my gratitude for our member programs for all their work in providing essential services to domestic violence victims. These agencies, which include the Community Legal Aid Society, Inc (CLASI), the Delaware Center for Justice, People’s Place, CHILD, Inc., and the YWCA Delaware, provide comprehensive and responsive services to victims of domestic violence. DCADV is so grateful for the commitment of our member programs!

Finally, we are planning for the October 10th Purple Ribbon Event and we hope you can join us to celebrate DCADV’s 30th Anniversary. Please see below for more information!

Peace,

Sue Ryan

DCADV held the 23rd Advocates’ Retreat and Conference on May 6-7, 2024. We returned to the Atlantic Sands Hotel & Conference Center in beautiful Rehoboth Beach.

Over these two days, over 100 advocates, victim service providers, preventionists, and survivors engaged in educational workshops to learn about topics like technology-facilitated abuse, working criminalized survivors, and the connection between maternal health and domestic violence.

New this year, we also had a track of workshops focused on self-care and wellness that covered burnout, the neurobiology of stress and secondary trauma, mindfulness, and establishing boundaries. We look forward to returning in 2025!

2024 marked the end of an era here at the Coalition. After more than ten years, DCADV concluded our work as a subrecipient on the Rape Prevention and Education (RPE) Grant. This grant is an ongoing partnership with Delaware’s Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) and the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The RPE Project is a nationwide effort to partner State Health Departments and the CDC in piloting and evaluating interventions to reduce sexual violence around the country. While there was more work than can be featured in just these short paragraphs, here are a few highlights.

As mentioned above, DCADV has updated its website, adding more LGBTQ resources and re-structuring the Help page to make it easier to find these resources.

This new resource page aims to provide a safe, inclusive, and supportive space for individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or other diverse sexual orientations and gender identities to access information and find resources to help them navigate various aspects of their lives.

Many of the resources on this page came from Camp Rehoboth and Planned Parenthood of Delaware.

Who inspires you? Nominate an individual for the Vision of Peace or Spirit of Advocacy Award; or a business or corporation in Delaware for the Corporate Citizenship Award! Nominations will be accepted through June 30, 2024.

We will celebrate the winners on Oct. 10th. Hope you can join us!

What if we could make sure everyone knows about domestic violence services in Delaware?

What if we could provide training to folks across the state?

What if we could be a voice for those who need support?

What if we could prevent and end domestic violence?

We can… with your support.

Your membership will provide essential funds that the Coalition uses throughout the year to support outreach, training, advocacy, and general operations. It ensures that the work we do reaches more victims and survivors, more advocates, more direct service providers, and more individual men and women working to end and prevent domestic violence in our community.

Will you join us as a member during our 30th Anniversary year? It’s an exciting time and we would love for you to be a part of it!

DV- Community Health Advocates are available to help here in Delaware. EVERYONE deserves a safe and healthy relationship. Please call if you or someone you know is in a dangerous or abusive relationship.

New Castle County: 302-757-2137

Kent/Sussex Counties: 302-422-8058