Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance

Since mid-March, the Commission has held numerous Committee meetings to discuss the current state of sexual violence intervention and prevention services. During these meetings, Committee members have reviewed past and current recommendations and have worked diligently to compile a list of 9-10 priority recommendations per sub-committee to present to the Commission for consideration.   The Action Alliance has actively participated on each of these committee and worked to promote the following recommendations:  increasing funding for Sexual Assault Crisis Centers and prevention initiatives in Virginia, convening a task force to develop standards of health care in responding to sexual violence, requiring law enforcement agencies to develop sexual assault policies, and releasing the model Sexual Assault Response Team protocol developed by the Department of Criminal Justice Services. We are please to report that most, if not all, of these recommendations are reflected in the final draft of recommendations developed by the sub-committees. In addition to our work through the sub-committees, the Action Alliance has compiled a report on our priority recommendations and distributed this report to all members of the Commission and Governor Kaine.

On June 27th, the Governor's Commission met for the second time to review draft recommendations from the working sub-committeee. Advocates from Bristol to Northern Virginia addressed the Commission with powerful and moving remarks regarding the need for SACC funding and children's services. Click here to see press coverage (Word Document). Their comments highlighted the four priority recommendations from the Virginia Sexual & Domestic Violence Action Alliance which are responsive to areas of need identified by to those who have experienced sexual violence and local experts on the front lines. The Action Alliance recommendations are about expanding comprehensive services and prevention programming, and includes services to children and youth impacted by sexual violence and take into consideration the budgetary impact on Virginia.

Currently, all 28 recommendations from presented by the sub-committees, including the 4 Action Alliance priorities, remain on the Commission's list of identified priorities. At the meeting the Commission members were asked to identify those recommendations that they believe can be accomplished or initiated within the next 12 months (short-term actions).   By the end of the meeting, the Commission members had a rough outline of those recommendations that were considered short-term, middle of the road, and long-term. Click here to see a list of the Commission's recommendations (Word Document).