Public Policy

Support for Domestic and Sexual Violence Services through the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)

Next year, the Violence Against Women Act will expire. The law is responsible for over $600 million annually going to nearly 25 different programs to create and support comprehensive, cost-effective responses to prevent and respond to violence against women.

Each time that Congress has reauthorized VAWA, it has added important services and addressed emerging issues. Next year, we need Congress to reauthorize VAWA and continue to target resources to end violence against women.

Family Violence Prevention Fund was joined by California Partnership to End Domestic Violence, California Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Peace Over Violence, and Rainbow Services in hosting a policy training for organizations on how to influence policymakers, media and the public to advance the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization. The lessons can be applied to local and state-level advocacy efforts. The second half of the program was a “listening session” for local providers and advocates to propose changes and provide feedback on VAWA programs directly to federal officials. A policy toolkit was distributed and can be downloaded at the bottom of this page to share with your supporters.

Agenda

Welcoming Remarks

Congresswoman Judy Chu

9:00 A.M. -11:00 A.M. Policy Training: Influencing Key Stakeholders

Influencing Public/Grassroots: Kim Carter, Founder and Executive Director, Time for Change Foundation, and Suzanne Verge, President, Los Angeles Chapter of the Brady Campaign
Influencing Media: Robin Sax, Esq., in-house NBC News legal analyst, guest commentator on national television, and author of six books
Influencing Policymakers: Taylor Mitchell, Field Deputy, United States Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard, and Marci Fukuroda, Esq. Director of Legal Services with Rainbow Services Ltd

11:00 – 11:30 A.M. Keynote

Abby Leibman, Esq., former Executive Director of the California Women’s Law Center and Principal of Leibman and Associates

11:30-1:00 P.M. –Field Hearing/Listening Session for Federal Officials on Priority Issues in Los Angeles

Los Angeles domestic violence and sexual assault providers/advocates;
Chief Counsels for the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee and U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee; Los Angeles Congressional representatives

Audio Conference

This audio conference enabled domestic and sexual violence providers to hear national advocates give an overview of the reauthorization effort, new proposed issues, and how they can influence and change VAWA programs and grant requirements. This audio conference is supported with funding to the Family Violence Prevention Fund from The California Endowment.