It's September already?!?! 😮

Dear Friends and Advocates,

We are just a few weeks away from Purple Ribbon 2025! This event is a joyful gathering of domestic violence advocates, community and system partners, member programs, funders, and individual supporters. It is an opportunity to share space with friends, colleagues, and fellow members, and a time to acknowledge our shared commitment to ending and preventing domestic violence. The evening includes a delicious dinner, awards for some very special people in our community, live music, and auction prizes! We hope that you can all join us on October 9th for Purple Ribbon 2025!

It has been a busy summer! In August, we hosted a two-day training through our Community Mental Health grant. This training was presented by the National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma, and Mental Health. We are so grateful to them for sharing their expertise!

DCADV also joined DV advocates for Governor Meyer’s signing of the newly updated Victims Bill of Rights. The signing of this legislation was the culmination of two years of work involving many community and system advocates.

DCADV deeply appreciates our member programs and community partners for their dedication and perseverance! We are also grateful to our individual supporters and to all who share our commitment to ending and preventing domestic violence.

Finally, we want to remind everyone about the gift of membership. As we move closer to the holiday season, we encourage you to consider giving a family member, friend, or colleague a DCADV membership as a gift! To learn how, please visit: www.DCADV.org/membership.

In gratitude,

Sue Ryan

Purchase event tickets!

Oct. 9 is coming up fast! Will you join survivors, advocates, community members, and friends for an unforgettable evening? (hint: the answer is yes!)

🍽️A delicious buffet dinner

🎶Live music from the always-amazing Paul Sedacca

🧺A basket auction loaded with fabulous goodies

📸memory-making mobile photo booth (NEW this year!)

💜Inspiring moments with our award winners

Celebrate the power of unity and the progress we’re making together to end domestic violence. Good vibes guaranteed!

Purchase auction tickets!

Purchase tickets and pick your prizes for a chance to win! Tickets will be available through our website until October 8th at 5pm, payable by credit card only. You will also be able to purchase tickets at the Purple Ribbon event on October 9th.

➡️➡️➡️ NEW this year: If you are attending the event but can't decide how to split your auction tickets, feel free to purchase them in advance, and we'll hand them over to you when you check in on October 9th, allowing you to make your selections. Just enter "event" in the ticket allocation section.

The winners will be announced at the Purple Ribbon Event, and you do not need to be present to win; we will contact you afterward.

If you have any questions, please get in touch with Jen Uro at 302-658-2958 ext. 117 or juro@dcadv.org. Thank you and good luck!

People's Place and DCADV staff at the two-day training on the intersection of DV, mental health, and substance abuse led by the National Center on DV, Trauma, and Mental Health and hosted by DCADV.

Check out our Foundations of Prevention training. This training consists of five lessons and serves as an introduction to gender-based violence prevention strategies. Each lesson includes a video recording and some include downloadable handouts. You must complete a short quiz before moving on to the next lesson. To receive a certificate of completion, you must complete all lessons and the course evaluation quiz.

Lesson 1: From Theory to Practice (9 minutes)

Lesson 2: Going Upstream (13 minutes)

Lesson 3: The Public Health Approach to Violence Prevention (11 minutes)

Lesson 4: Risk and Protective Factors (18 minutes)

Lesson 5: Prevention Strategies (14 minutes)

Stay tuned as this training will be available in Spanish in the coming months!

Stay up to date on our advocacy & policy work!

The Advocacy & Policy team attended the National Center for Victims of Crime Conference earlier in September.

They have also been busy meeting with staff from our Congressional offices to share information on the DV-Community Health Worker project and other advocacy issues.

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

Learn more about WOCTF

In August, WOCTF attended the West Manor Community Fair. There were 430 visitors, and WOCTF was named Most Impactful Vendor along with the ASPCA!

The task force is discussing strategic planning for WOCTF, which will result in growth for the task force.

WOCTF will attend the DSU Sexual Health Fair in September, and they're also planning a conference for Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October.

Dedra Handy and Esther Hofknect were featured speakers at the "Healing Experience 2025" event in Washington D.C., in August, where they shared their personal experiences with domestic violence and subsequent advocacy.

Doritha Skinner held a Healing workshop titled "Permission to Heal".

WEAVER looks forward to the many upcoming events this fall.

Learn more about WEAVER

YWCA Delaware’s Home-Life Management Center (HLMC) provides safety, healing, and new beginnings. Since 1989, Home-Life has provided both emergency and transitional housing, paired with the care and support families need to get back on their feet.

From the moment they arrive, individuals and families are welcomed with fresh linens, toiletries, and a care package from thoughtful volunteers. Every client is connected with a dedicated case manager who helps them build a plan for stability and independence.

Home-Life offers safe, private rooms and fully furnished apartments, along with cozy family spaces, a computer lab, a food pantry, and a healing space from YWCA Delaware’s Sexual Assault Response Center (SARC). Families also benefit from workshops on financial literacy, job readiness, health, and parenting.

The impact is clear: in 2024, Home-Life supported 216 families with shelter, helped 24 move into permanent homes, and 80% of families built the skills to maintain housing on their own.

If you or someone you know needs housing support, please call Housing Alliance Delaware’s Centralized Intake at 1-822-346-3233 or email intake@housingalliancede.org to request a referral to YWCA Delaware’s Home-Life Management Center.

DCADV enjoyed a wellness retreat with Lindsay from Coastal Alchemy. From meditation to pot painting to planting succulents, it was a great day to step away and spend time together!

NNEDV Advocacy Days with DCADV staff and Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester.

In August, Senate Bill 17 was signed by Gov. Matt Meyer. The Crime Victims’ Bill of Rights statute in Delaware Law was updated for the first time in 30 years. Thank you to everyone who made this happen!