Domestic violence prevention programs are federal- and state-funded public or private, non-profit agencies that provide services to survivors of domestic violence and their children. Local domestic violence programs provide for the safety of battered adults and their children through the provision of emergency housing and transportation, crisis intervention, peer counseling, support, advocacy and information and referral. Funding also supports public awareness initiatives and the statewide Family Violence and sexual assault hotline.
At the state level, the functions of the Domestic Violence Prevention Program are to:
- Allocate funding to local domestic agencies
- Promote interagency cooperation for service delivery, technical assistance and data collection
- Promote provision of domestic violence services in unserved and underserved localities
- Promote public awareness of domestic violence, its prevention and services to survivors
- Maintain and disseminate statistical and program information
- Provide information to the legislature and other interested parties
- Provide technical assistance to local domestic violence agencies
The Domestic Violence Program within the Virginia Department of Social Services identifies, mobilizes and monitors resources for victims of domestic violence. Close to 60,000 women and their children are served annually.
General Information
Help for Victims of DV
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How to Protect Yourself
Safety for yourself and for your children must be your primary concern when you are experiencing violence in your home. Develop a plan. Figure out the best way to get yourself and your children to safety. Ask for help. Keep some money, an extra set of keys, identification records (birth certificates, social security cards) and other important documents and telephone numbers with a trusted friend. Let your neighbors know your situation. Ask them to call the police if they hear suspicious noises from your house. Teach your children how to use the telephone and how to contact the police or other help in an emergency.
If you are being abused by someone in your family or by a partner, CALL 911. The police are required to:
- Respond to your call.
- Make an arrest if there is probable cause that an assault has occurred.
- Write a report of incident and give you a summary of the report.
The police are also required to request an Emergency Protective Order if they believe you are in further danger. This will order the abuser to:
- Stop abusing you.
- Stay away from you.
Places to Get Help
- Police - Call 911
- Hotline: 1-800-838-8238 (available 24/7)
- Shelters/Programs (PDF)
- Local Departments of Social Services
- Victim-Witness Programs
Grantees
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Domestic Violence Prevention & Services
- ARPA Cost Allowability Chart (PDF)
- Allowability of Cost Chart (PDF)
- Fiscal Year 2022 Budget (XLS)
- Fiscal Year 2022 Semi-Annual Progress Report (DOCX)
- RFA CVS-19-057-A Domestic Violence Prevention
- Updating Your Invoice Workbooks and Submitting the First ARPA Invoice (Instructions) (PDF)
- Updating Your Invoice Workbooks and Submitting the First ARPA Invoice (Tutorial) (MP4)
Domestic Violence Services for Underserved Populations
- ARPA Cost Allowability Chart (PDF)
- Allowability of Cost Chart (PDF)
- Fiscal Year 2022 Budget (XLS)
- Fiscal Year 2022 Quarterly Progress Report (DOCX)
- RFA FAM-21-071 Domestic Violence Services for Underserved Populations (PDF)
- Updating Your Invoice Workbooks and Submitting the First ARPA Invoice (Instructions) (PDF)
- Updating Your Invoice Workbooks and Submitting the First ARPA Invoice (Tutorial) (MP4)
Language Access
- Casa de Esperanza’s Language Access Plan Template
- Limited English Proficiency
- Toolkit
- Webinar 1: Strategies for Compliance
- Webinar 2: Understanding Culture and Language
- Webinar 3: Ensuring Meaningful Access for Survivors with Limited English Proficiency
- Webinar 6: Systems Change and Rural Communities Language Access
Learning Modules
- Learning Module 1 LGBQT Policy Requirments (PDF)
- Learning Module 2 LGBQT Accessibility (PDF)
- Learning Module 3 LGBQT Response and Prevention (PDF)
- Voluntary Services Module 01 (PDF)
- Voluntary Services Module 02 (PDF)
- Voluntary Services Module 03 (PDF)
- Voluntary Services Module 04 (PDF)
- Voluntary Services Module 05 (PDF)
Promising Practices
- 1. PPG Introduction (PDF)
- 2. PPG Acknowledgement (PDF)
- 3. PPG Survivor Voice Survey Summary (PDF)
- Community Based # 01 - Legal Advocacy Entry (PDF)
- Community Based # 01 - Legal Advocacy Infographic (PDF)
- Community Based # 02 - Mobile Advocacy Entry (PDF)
- Community Based # 02 - Mobile Advocacy Inforgraphic (PDF)
- Community Based # 03 - Lethality Assessment Protocol Entry (PDF)
- Community Based # 03 - Lethality Assessment Protocol Infographic (PDF)
- Community Connections # 01 - DSS Connections Entry (PDF)
- Community Connections # 01 - DSS Connections Inforgraphic (PDF)
- Shelter # 01 - Voluntary Services Entry (PDF)
- Shelter # 01 - Voluntary Services Infographic (PDF)
- Shelter # 02 - Transportation Entry (PDF)
- Shelter # 02 - Transportation Infographic (PDF)
- Shelter # 03 - Shelter Intake Entry (PDF)
- Shelter # 03 - Shelter Intake Infographic (PDF)
- Shelter # 04 - Access to Shelter Entry (PDF)
- Shelter # 04 - Access to Shelter Infographic (PDF)
- Shelter # 05 - Language Access Entry (PDF)
- Shelter # 05 - Language Access Infographic (PDF)
- Shelter # 06 - Exiting Clients Entry (PDF)
- Shelter # 06 - Exiting Clients Infographic (PDF)
- Shelter # 07 - Shelter Design Entry (PDF)
- Shelter # 07 - Shelter Design Infographic (PDF)
- Shelter # 08 - Housing Entry (PDF)
- Shelter # 08 - Housing Infographic (PDF)
- Shelter # 09 - Food Justice Entry (PDF)
- Shelter # 09 - Food Justice Infographic (PDF)
- Shelter # 10 - Emergency Preparedness Entry (PDF)
- Shelter # 10 - Emergency Preparedness Infographic (PDF)
- Shelter # 11 - Shelter Policies Entry (PDF)
- Shelter # 11 - Shelter Policies Infographic (PDF)
- Shelter # 12 - Supervision of Children Entry (PDF)
- Shelter # 12 - Supervision of Children Infographic (PDF)
Resources
- 2020 Income Eligibility Standards (PDF)
- Multi-Cultural Resources in Virginia (PDF)
- Linking Systems of Care (LSC)
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The goal of the project is to identify children and youth who have had crimes committed against them and to address the potential serious and long-lasting consequences of exposure to crime. The project gives Virginia an opportunity to collaboratively create, strengthen, and improve the coordination of services provided by the many child and youth-serving systems to ensure that:
- children are screened for victimization;
- children, youth and families are provided comprehensive and coordinated
- services to fully address their needs; and
- policies and practices are established to sustain this
- approach long-term
Manual
This guidance manual is part of the VDSS Child and Family Services Manual. The VDSS Child and Family Services Manual provides guidance for Family Services programs including Prevention, Child Protective Services, Foster Care and Adoption. This manual addresses Domestic Violence and provides information common to all program areas in Family Services.
- Domestic Violence Manual (PDF)