WHO WE ARE                 WHAT WE DO                WHAT YOU CAN DO

The Structure of NCADV

NCADV is governed by a working Board of Directors comprised of caucus representatives and at-large members who are themselves active in domestic violence programs in their own communities. NCADV represents both rural and urban areas of the nation. Our programs involve and support battered women of all social, racial, ethnic, religious and economic groups, ages, and lifestyles. Active caucuses include Battered/Formerly Battered Women, Women of Color, LBTGQQI, Jewish Women, Child and Youth Advocacy, Rural Women, and Queer Persons of Color.

NCADV serves as a national information and referral center for the general public, media, battered women and their children, allied and member agencies and organizations. NCADV has a strong track record of providing programs with information and technical assistance, and has promoted the development of innovative programs which address the special needs of all battered women, and the battered women's programs. NCADV has sponsored eleven national conferences on domestic violence, which provide a unique forum within the battered women's movement for networking, dialogue, debate, leadership development, and celebration.

NCADV also serves to impact public policy and legislation which affect battered women and their children. NCADV organized testimony for the Attorney General's Task Force hearings on Family Violence; worked with federal legislators to develop priorities for Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funds for battered women's programs; supported the development and passage of the Violence Against Women Act (1994 and 2005); and was active in the passage of the Domestic Violence Offender Gun Ban (1996).

NCADV Programs and Activities

The NCADV Public Policy Office leads other advocacy groups in Washington, D.C in developing cohesive strategies on legislation and policy that address the intersection of issues that often keep battered women trapped by violence, such as transitional housing, cultural issues, welfare reform, and the impact of domestic violence on children and youth. We advocate in Congress on such issues as the full funding of the Violence Against Women Act programs and conduct research on issues affecting victims of domestic violence to compile information for the creation of legislation and policy. We offer general advocacy and support to individuals and groups seeking information on legislation, laws, policy, studies, and other resources about domestic violence.

NCADV's Annual National Lobby Day provides the opportunity for battered women and battered women's advocates from around the country to address their national representatives about the issues affecting battered women in their communities and how they can make a difference when they vote. Lobby Day is a critical component to the passage of key legislation for battered women's safety, visibility of the issue, and public education. We organize battered women and battered women's advocates nationally to participate fully in the democratic process in an effort to influence legislation and policy that affect battered women.

The Public Policy Publications include: legislative updates on current national legislation, policy and efforts to end domestic violence; fact sheets on targeted issues such as domestic violence homicide; dating violence; children who witness domestic violence; domestic violence in the workplace; men as victims of violence; and domestic violence in communities of color. NCADV's Appropriations Briefing Books illustrate how monies allocated for domestic violence and sexual assault programs have been actually distributed and where the deficits lie. Action alerts serve to encourage our constituency to e-mail, call, or write their Senators and Representatives and urge Members of Congress to support legislation aimed at ending violence in our communities. The Legislative Action Guides are used to teach advocates and others about the democratic process and how they can effectively influence their Senators and Representatives on issues that affect domestic violence victims.

NCADV's Membership Program provides discounts on trainings, conference and products, and access to NCADV's National Directory of Domestic Violence Programs, online newsletters and alerts, and the NCADV Voice: The Journal of the Battered Women's Movement, which is published several times a year.

The Financial Education Project addresses one of the main roadblocks battered women face when leaving a violent relationship--financial independence. Through trainings provided across the country, the project teaches advocates and others in the domestic violence field how to start, maintain, and structure financial education programs within their own communities to provide battered women with better financial information to help them remain free from their abuser.

Cosmetic and Reconstructive Support (CRS) Program, in partnership with three medical associations, is the only NCADV program that brings services directly to survivors who have been physically scarred by an intimate partner or spouse. The program offers women who have been injured by a spouse or intimate partner an opportunity to remove the physical scars of abuse, often an important step as they move forward with their lives. CRS includes:

Face-To-Face is a program of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and provides facial plastic surgery for injuries to the head, face, and neck.

Give Back A Smile is a program of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and provides cosmetic dentistry for injuries to the front teeth.

S.C.O.R.E.S. is a program of the American Society of Dermatological Surgery and repairs skin injuries on the body like burns, scars, and tattoos. The "Remember My Name" Project is an ongoing project dedicated to compiling the names of women and family members killed as a result of domestic violence, and producing posters annually to display the names of victims and building a comprehensive database on cases of lethal domestic violence.

NCADV sells a variety of Domestic Violence Awareness Products that can help community-based programs educate others about the impact of domestic violence. Our "She Only Got Flowers Once" poster, purple ribbons pins, magnets, bumper stickers, clothing, and other items provide a unified message of intolerance for domestic violence. Please visit http://shop.ncadv.org.

NCADV's Information and Referral program provides information, resources, referrals, and technical support addressing a wide spectrum of domestic violence topics and strategies for survivors, service agencies, and interested parties.

NCADV's biennial national conferences on domestic violence provide a unique forum for battered women, battered women's advocates, and others serving victims of domestic violence. At these conferences, participants can network, debate, create new dialogue, develop leadership, and learn about innovative and effective programming focused on ending domestic violence.

The National Directory of Domestic Violence Programs--A Guide to Community Shelter, Safe Homes and Service Programs provides up-to-date information about domestic violence programs throughout the country, each with a comprehensive profile of services. Also included in the directory is a listing of all the state coalitions and national resource centers dealing with domestic violence and related issues.

www.ncadv.org: NCADV's website that provides information on all NCADV programs, activities, and events as well as information on legislative issues, domestic violence research material, and other related topics. It is a widely used tool, attracting over two million visits a year.

Voices Against Violence, a media campaign launched in 1999, unites celebrities and other prominent public figures in the fight to end domestic violence.