Domestic Violence Agencies

Benefit From Dodd’s Advocacy

EAST HARTFORD — The Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CCADV) and advocates in Connecticut and across the country are applauding Senator Chris Dodd for his leadership in passing a bill to reauthorize the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVSPA), as part of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA).

Final passage of this bill will help keep domestic violence shelters open so that victims and their children can find safety and support to flee abusive homes.

“We greatly appreciate all the work of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions [HELP] Committee on passing FVPSA, and especially thank Senator Dodd for his unwavering commitment to domestic violence victims,” said Erika Tindill, executive director of CCADV. “CCADV applauds Senator Dodd’s remarkable leadership in introducing the bill and ushering it through the Senate toward passage. He is truly a champion for victims and the residents of Connecticut are proud of his work.” 

FVPSA is the only dedicated federal funding source for domestic violence shelters and services. For 25 years, FVPSA-funded programs have been supporting the lifesaving emergency shelters, crisis lines, counseling, victim assistance, and programs for underserved communities provided by local domestic violence programs, but it expired in 2008.

The new bill will build upon FVPSA’s core strengths and includes critical improvements that will allow more victims to receive the services they so desperately need. FVPSA will continue to support the crucial work of domestic violence shelters and programs in Connecticut and across the country.

There are more than such 18 community-based domestic violence programs that provide emergency shelter and a wide range of services to approximately 60,000 victims and their children this year in Connecticut.

“Domestic violence victims are counting on Congress to support lifesaving services,” said Ms Tindill.