⌚ It's time to check in with DCADV!

Dear Friends and Advocates,

2025 has brought new challenges and a renewed commitment to engage with our members and community partners to address and end domestic violence! DCADV remains committed to working collaboratively with our member programs to support their efforts to provide essential services.

In March, we are providing a two-day DV101 training for domestic violence advocates and service providers to share best practices. We will also be hosting a training on March 12th called Moving Up in which community leaders will share their tips for advancing your careers; see more info below. In addition, DCADV is planning a statewide Advocate’s Training and Networking event to be held in early May.

DCADV’s advocacy is focused on increasing state funding for DV services. We are coordinating with other agencies efforts to share with the new Governor the essential resources that are offered by the victims services community.

Now, more than ever, we need the backing of our community members! Financial support of the Coalition allows us to continue and expand our training and advocacy efforts. There has been much in the news about new federal priorities, please know DCADV’s priorities remain steady: to engage in coordinated efforts to end domestic violence. As concerns about federal funding increase, we remain hopeful that support from our friends and donors will also remain steady and when personal finances allow, increase.

What can you do to help?

➡ Join DCADV as a Member if you aren’t one already!

➡Donate: Every little bit helps!

➡Share this information with friends, colleagues, neighbors, and family to encourage them to join the movement.

Many thanks for all your support!

Sue Ryan

March 12, 2024 at 1:00 p.m.

Presenters: Nancy Castellanos, Program Director, Abriendo Puertas at People’s Place; Cierra Hall-Hipkins, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Network Connect; Sue Ryan, Executive Director, Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence

Thinking of moving up inside your agency? Wondering how you can become a Program Director or an Executive Director or a Community Leader? This webinar provides some practical tips and advice from current program and agency leaders for nonprofit staff who are interested in learning more about how they can move up to a leadership position. Recognizing the importance of building diversity in leadership positions, the webinar shares stories from agency and community leaders, including women of color, to encourage others to become the leaders they aspire to be.

Learn more!

The Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence is preparing for our 24th Advocates’ Training & Networking Event!

We recognize that working in this field can feel like we’re on the never-ending path to create change that we’ll never see. It’s work that can consist of equal parts hope, optimism, frustration, and exhaustion. Through this year’s theme “Forging Ahead: Our Map to a World Without Violence,” we hope to bring opportunities for the advocacy community to connect, share information, and engage in efforts needed to address and prevent intimate partner violence, family violence, sexual violence, dating violence, and/or stalking. We also recognize the urgent need for opportunities to identify and explore how to sustain ourselves and our workforce in the movement to end violence.

Tell me more!

The Coalition's public policy priorities for 2025 have been determined so please take a look when you have time. As always, we can't do this without you and hope you will continue to support our advocacy efforts in Dover.

It is going to be a busy session and with several meetings already completed, DCADV is committed to getting the work done!

2025 public policy priorities

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

Did you know the DV- Community Health Advocates supported 166 new clients in 2024 and 210 of their children? The program continues to thrive statewide, providing participants with services within their communities.

Learn more

WOCTF is focusing on strengthening its relationship with college students. Members had a great time hosting a table at DSU’s February 13th HIV/Heart Healthy Party, providing info about healthy relationships (always a great topic for Valentine’s Day!) to 70+ students. In November, WOCTF’s Coordinator and DCADV's Ama Amponsah presented a class on IPV vs healthy relationships to 50+ students, which was very well-received.

WOCTF’s Chair, Carolyn Morgan, LCSW, was invited to join DSU’s Social Work Advisory Board and Coordinator Diane Postell, LCSW, was invited to join UD’s inaugural Social Work Advisory Board for its new SW program.

Learn more about WOCTF

The members of the WEAVER Task Force have been busy in 2025.

On January 16th, task force members attended the Wilmington Police Department’s Community Resource Fair where they joined Wilmington police officers and other community advocates at the MSK Community Center to share information about DCADV, the task force, and DV resources with members of the local community. January 20th was WEAVER's belated holiday celebration and bowling event. A fun time was had by all who attended!

On February 27th, the task force met with members of Padua Academy’s B-Safe student resource group to discuss safe relationships and what to do in case of unsafe relationships.

WEAVER looks forward to your continued support and participation in our upcoming events!

Learn more about WEAVER

Thank you to M&T Bank for the generous donation of $2000 to support the task forces. The continued support means so much!

It's time for Do More 24! Are you ready to do more to support the task forces? For 24 hours starting on March 6 at 6pm, you can donate to these two amazing groups!

Do More for DCADV's task forces

Governor Matt Meyer has appointed Stephanie Rodriguez to the Judicial Nominating Commission. Stephanie is the Program Director at Turning Point at People's Place.

The Delaware Judicial Nominating Commission, also known as the JNC, is an independent state commission in Delaware first established by executive order in 1977 that plays a role in the state's judicial selection process. The JNC has 15 members, selected by both the governor. Delaware uses the judicial nomination commission method of judicial selection for its state courts. Using this method, the governor appoints state judges from a list of names submitted by the JNC. The JNC is a governor-controlled commission, which means that a majority of members are chosen by the governor.

Congratulations, Stephanie!

Dust off your sneakers, do a few stretches, and get ready for CHILD, Inc's 5K in May! 28th year! Wow!

When: May 18th

Where: Autumn Arch Beer Project

Sign me up

Hit the Links for Civil Justice! Save the date for the 10th annual Combined Campaign for Justice Cup on August 4, 2025! This golf outing raises funds for the Combined Campaign for Justice (CCJ), which helps support Delaware’s three civil legal aid organizations and their work on behalf of vulnerable and underserved communities, including survivors of domestic violence. For more information, visit: delawareccj.org. Questions? mmcpheeters@delawareccj.org

Abriendo Puertas' Latina Out Reach Coordinator, Yamaris Zabala offered a Financial Empowerment class in Spanish from October to November, 2024 utilizing the All State Moving Ahead Curriculum. 11 participants learned about financial management through 5 modules. These modules cover topics ranging from financial abuse awareness to creating effective budget strategies. The class was a success and the participants had a positive outcome and experience. Abriend Puertas' is happy to report this class will be offered again!

DCADV was thrilled to be a part of the Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month proclamation signing! Congratulations to the poster contest 1st place winners, Jhamiya, sophomore at Smyrna High School, and Madalin, 8th grader at Seaford Middle School!

At the Joint Finance Committee hearings at Legislative Hall, members of the CHW Association gave testimony on the value of Community Health Workers and the importance of sustainable funding. Currently, 24 states fund CHWs with Medicaid. Delaware is not one of these states, yet. Call your state legislators and ask them to support Senate Joint Resolution 2 sponsored by Sen. Marie Pinkney. Many thanks for Maite Aros (DV-CHW, CHILD, Inc.) for giving testimony!