National Coalition Against Domestic Violence

Cosmetic and Reconstructive Support

Cosmetic and Reconstructive Support program helps survivors of domestic violence receive facial, dental, and dermatological reconstruction necessary to live a healthy life and move forward from their traumatic past. National Coalition Against Domestic Violence works with three medical associations including Face to Face, Give Back a Smile, and a Skin Care Outreach Empowers Survivors.

Rebuilding Guide for Victims

In 2001, National Coalition Against Domestic Violence partnered with The National Endowment for Financial Education to produce a manual, titled Hope & Power for Your Personal Finances: A Rebuilding Guide Following Domestic Violence, which serves to inform and assist women who have been victims of domestic violence to regain financial freedom in their lives. This program deals with topics including budgeting, banking, lending, dealing with workplace abuse, and identity theft. NCADV has held workshops designed to train individuals to have the skills necessary for participation in financial education. Trainers must know how to handle individuals who have sustained abuse in their past relationships, while at the same time offering advice and guiding them.

Work with survivors of Hurricane Katrina

Since 2005, National Coalition Against Domestic Violence worked with survivors of Hurricane Katrina, relocating women who had previously been staying at women's shelters throughout affected areas. National Coalition Against Domestic Violence has set up an outlet for other battered women's shelters throughout the country to advertise the availability of beds.

Day of Unity

National Coalition Against Domestic Violence sponsored the first annual Day of Unity in 1981. Observations around the United States include recognizing victims who died as a result of domestic violence by wearing the color purple, and celebrations for the achievements of people fighting against domestic violence.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

National Coalition Against Domestic Violence created and observed the first Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October 1987. Congress designated October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in 1989.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month's events promote awareness, encourage reporting, provide safety for victims, encourage people to look out for one another, and ensure treatment is provided and administrative action taken when needed.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month has been observed each October since 1987.

Remember My Name

In October 1994, National Coalition Against Domestic Violence teamed up with Ms Magazine to create "Remember My Name", a list of victims who have lost their lives to domestic violence.

The Project records information about each victim who was killed, including their age at the time of death, the names and ages of surviving children, and the weapon used against them. The project also documents information about each perpetrator, including relationship to victim, their name, age, and sentence received.

Retaining detailed information helps defend against questions about the validity of domestic violence statistics.

Free database of local domestic violence resources

In August 2014, National Coalition Against Domestic Violence launched domesticshelters.org, the first online searchable database of domestic violence agencies in the U.S. It partnered with a family foundation called Theresa's Fund in Arizona to identify approximately 3,000 agencies and gather data on each, and develop and launch the website. The service makes it easier for an individual to find relevant agencies based on proximity, language preference, and service needs.

Victim-centered conferences

National Coalition Against Domestic Violence sponsors conferences frequently in order to bring survivors and leaders together to freely speak on the topic of domestic violence and develop connections with one another.One of the most recent events was the 2008 National Coalition Against Domestic Violence Conference held July 18, 2008, in Washington D.C. The conference is held every two years and is a place for members to plan out future endeavors and commemorate past actions.

Legislative policy advocacy

National Coalition Against Domestic Violence works with members of Congress to improve legislation dealing with domestic violence.

Responding to the problem of domestic violence offenders who fight with victims for custody of their children, National Coalition Against Domestic Violence advocates for legislation that keeps the best interest of the children in mind.

In 1994, National Coalition Against Domestic Violence was part of a team to pass the Violence Against Women Act to provide funding for investigation into domestic violence and prosecution of offenders.

National Coalition Against Domestic Violence has also helped with the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act, International Violence Against Women Act, and Legislative Action Day.

Media

National Coalition Against Domestic Violence creates public service announcements to help increase awareness of domestic violence and help women affected by it to call their National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).

In 2008, news releases report that television network ABC and their show 20/20 are in the process of considering airing an hour-long segment about a wife and mother suffering from domestic violence and receiving less-than-par treatment from the family court system.

Training of law enforcement officers

In 1985, the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence applied for a grant from the United States Department of Justice to train police officers and other professionals to work with victims of family violence, to develop a model for others to use in starting shelters, and to distribute information and referral for victims of domestic violence.

A director from the Free Congress Foundation opined that "pro-lesbian, hard-core feminists" should not receive a federal grant. The Heritage Foundation also opposed the grant, calling the organization pro-lesbian and anti-family.

In response, the executive director of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence said, "We are made up of diverse groups of women. We're trying to stop violence against all women. I'm shocked that the lesbian issue is being used against women who are trying to help themselves." She said they help all women who are victims of domestic violence, and that they do not discriminate against particular groups of women.

After reviewing the grant application, the Department of Justice awarded the grant to National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence agreed in writing that the grant funds would not be used for pro-lesbian causes.

Publications

Informational manuals and publications by National Coalition Against Domestic Violence and members include:

History

National Coalition Against Domestic Violence began at the United States Commission on Civil Rights hearing on battered women. Beginning as 100 individuals, it became thousands of members working together and sharing their experiences with domestic violence, homophobia, sexism, racism, and ageism. National Coalition Against Domestic Violence was officially incorporated as a nonprofit organization on September 22, 1978.