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SEPTEMBER 2021
NEWS & UPDATES
Volume 19 | Issue 9
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Governor Kathy Hochul Takes Office; NYSCADV Looks Forward to a New Day of Collaboration on DV-Related Issues |
Governor Kathy Hochul was sworn into office shortly after midnight on August 24, 2021, as New York State’s 57th Governor. She had been serving as the state Lieutenant Governor since 2015. She is an attorney and former Congresswoman from Buffalo. DV advocates who participated in NYSCADV’s 2019 Day of Action may recall the Governor’s comments regarding her grandmother’s experiences as a domestic violence survivor, which led her mother, Pat Courtney, to dedicate her professional life to working with DV survivors. In fact, her mother opened the Kathleen Mary House, a transitional DV shelter in Buffalo, when she was 70 years old. For more information about the Governor’s family connection to domestic abuse, see here.
At the core of NYSCADV’s work is a foundational principle to do all that we can to support victims and survivors of abuse and violence while we also strive for system reforms that address gaps in prevention and response across our state. The experiences of those that come forward to report abuse and harassment must be believed. We are deeply troubled whenever silencing and minimizing tactics are utilized in response to those who are harassed and abused.
New York State is at a turning point, and we cannot dismiss the deep impact these actions, inactions and deflections have on those in public service, others who interact with state government, survivors of domestic and sexual violence, and all New Yorkers. We know that, under Governor Hochul’s leadership, New York will set higher goals for itself, and ensure accountability and responsibility within our systems. We look forward to working with the Governor and her administration as she works to ensure New York State is governed in an ethical, accountable and transparent manner.
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October is right around the corner, and NYSCADV is busy working on our plans and events to recognize Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) this October. We will be sharing more information about upcoming awareness activities and ways to be involved in the coming weeks, but in the meantime, please see below for two DVAM announcements.
DV Service Providers, Tell Us About Your DVAM Plans!
If your program is organizing any events or activities during the month, let us know! NYSCADV can add them to our event calendar and help spread the word about your activities. Click here for the submission form.
Sponsorship Opportunities for NYSCADV's Pumpkin Decorating Contest
NYSCADV will once again host our virtual Pumpkin Decorating Contest during Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October. This fun is open to participants of all ages and locations.
We are actively inviting sponsors to support this event. A range of sponsorship packages, benefits and promotional opportunities are available to businesses, foundations, corporations and any others interested in supporting the event. For more information, please contact Gina Peattie.
Contestants, start planning your pumpkin designs! Registration will be opening soon!
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Governor’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Forensic Evaluators Seeking Public Input
Two public listening sessions have been scheduled for the public to provide information to the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Forensic Evaluations regarding forensic custody evaluations in New York State:
- Thursday, September 9th, 2021 | 5:30PM-7:30PM
- Thursday, September 23rd, 2021 | 10AM-12PM
Testimony can be provided orally or in writing. Oral statements will be limited based on the number of interested speakers. All speakers are asked to provide their oral statements in writing, and individuals who are not providing oral testimony may also submit standalone written statements. Written submissions are being accepted by September 23, 2021.
The Commission is seeking input on the following questions related to the use of forensic custody evaluations in New York State, and encourages those offering a statement to attempt to answer at least one of them:
- For professionals, what has been your experience with the evaluation process? What worked, what did not work, and why?
- What are the primary benefits and challenges of the current forensic custody evaluation process?
- What are possible solutions to improve the forensic custody evaluation process?
- Have you experienced systemic biases exist under the current system and how can we address them?
- What should accountability look like for our forensic custody evaluation process?
The listening sessions will be open to the public and participants’ names and images may be visible to the public. Individuals with cases currently in court should consult with their attorneys before speaking or sending a written statement to determine if it will affect their case or could have an impact on future litigation. If individuals are not represented by an attorney, they are encouraged to consult with a legal assistance organization that provides free consultations.
Click below to access additional resources:
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SAVE THE DATE: NNEDV DV COUNTS SURVEY DAY |
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NNEDV's DV Counts Census Day will take place on Thursday, September 9th, 2021. More information is forthcoming and will be shared with all identified program contacts when available. If you have any questions or would like to update your program's contact information, please reach out to Jennifer Clark at jclark@nyscadv.org.
Thank you to all the DV Programs and their staff that participated in the 2020 DV Counts Census. We had a 100% participation rate and could once again gain a clear picture of the needs of survivors in New York State. The full 2020 report for NNEDV's DV Counts Survey is available here.
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ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT PROJECT |
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Domestic Violence Survivors to Receive Financial Education as Result of Allstate Foundation, NYSCADV Economic Empowerment Project
The New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NYSCADV) is providing economic empowerment grants to Brighter Tomorrows, Inc., Korean-American Family Service Center, and The Retreat Inc. to support survivors of financial abuse. NYSCADV received funding for the third year in a row through the Allstate Foundation’s “Moving Ahead” program.
Click here to read the full press release. |
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Allstate Foundation Funding for Youth Empowerment and Relationship Violence Prevention Programs that Advance Racial Equity
The Allstate Foundation is offering funding opportunities focused on 1) relationship violence prevention programs and 2) inclusive leadership programs for youth and educators. Grants ranging from $25,000-$200,000 will be awarded. Pre-applications are required and full applications are due October 22 by invitation only. Click here for more information.
Two Red Rover Grant Opportunities
The Safe Escape grant program helps families with pets safely escape domestic violence together. Funding is mainly provided to help with the cost of temporary pet boarding while a client is in a domestic violence shelter. Click here for more information.
The Safe Housing grant is intended to offer pet-housing options that help families by removing a barrier to safety and allowing pets and people to escape abuse together. Safe Housing grants are offered in the form of onsite, offsite, safe housing startup and animal shelter collaborations to implement pet-housing to ensure that there is a solution for every domestic violence shelter. Click here for more information.
Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative (ESSHI) Request for Proposals
The NYS Office of Mental Health has issued its sixth-round RFP to advance its goal of developing more than 6,000 supportive housing units over five years for persons identified as homeless with special needs, conditions or other life challenges. This initiative focuses only on permanent supportive housing. The application deadline is October 6. Click here for more information.
HUD Accepting Applications for FY’21 Continuum of Care (CoC) Program
HUD’s CoC program is designed to promote a community-wide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness. Funding is provided to not-for-profits, states, Native American organizations, housing entities and local governments to quickly rehouse homeless individuals, families, DV survivors, and youth while minimizing the trauma and dislocation caused by homelessness. Of the $2.656 billion in funding available for the FY’21 program, up to $102 million is available for DV bonus projects, nearly double what was previously available. CoC applicants will receive extra points for working with DV service/sexual assault service providers and/or for attempting to reduce racial disparities for Black, Indigenous, Hispanic, and LGBTQ individuals who are disproportionally more likely to experience homelessness. The application deadline is Tuesday, November 16. Click for more information about the notice, program registration, and program information.
Additional HUD Funding Opportunities
HUD awards discretionary funding through over 20 Grant programs that support HUD initiatives, including Affordable Housing Development and Preservation, Community and Economic Development, Environment and Energy, Fair Housing, Homelessness, Homeownership, Rental Assistance, and Supportive Housing and Services. Click here for more information.
Eviction Protection Grant Program
The overall purpose of the Eviction Protection Grant Program is to support experienced legal service providers, not limited to legal service corporations, in providing legal assistance at no cost to low-income tenants at risk of or subject to eviction. HUD’s Office of Policy Development and Research is making available grant funds to non-profit or governmental entities to provide services in areas with high rates of evictions or prospective evictions, including rural areas. The application deadline is September 10. Click here for more information.
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Host a Fundraiser for NYSCADV!
Are you interested in hosting a fundraiser to support NYSCADV's work to end and prevent domestic violence?
Now is a perfect time to plan an event in October in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, or any other time of year that you'd like.
Reach out to NYSCADV's Deputy Director, Gina Peattie for more information!
GJ Attitude is a clothing company focused on projecting courage, confidence and power to women. The company is generously donating 5% of all sales to NYSCADV. Visit the GJ Attitude website by clicking here to view t-shirt collections and place an order. Thank you, GJ Attitude, for supporting NYSCADV's work!
Shop on Amazon Smile by following the link to Amazon Smile, login to your Amazon account, and select New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence as your charity of choice. Amazon gives to NYSCADV every time you shop!
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