Signature Project:

     Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention

Click here for the GFWC Signature Project, Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention from the GFWC Club Manual.
Click here for the Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Information Please pages.
Click here for the Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Report Cover Sheet.
Click here for information on the GFWC Success for Survivors $1000 Scholarship Program.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS PROGRAM
ACTION PLAN

OBJECTIVE: Increase member awareness about and involvement in programs to decrease domestic violence in our communities in Massachusetts.

DETAILED INFORMATION can be found listed in the GFWC CLUB MANUAL under GFWC SPECIAL PROJECTS-Domestic Violence

BECOME AWARE AND LEARN FACTS

• Investigate resources available in your community regarding domestic violence:
• Are there sufficient shelters in your community and are there hotline numbers readily available?
• Are your community leaders aware and responsive?
• Are schools, places of worship, community service organizations, local business offering to support educational initiatives/
• What are the statistics in your community regarding domestic violence?

INITIATE AND SUPPORT COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES Wear the GFWC Domestic Violence Awareness pin. Receive Legislative Action Alerts from the National Network to End Domestic Violence and become an advocate. Educate your club and community members by presenting programs, workshops and speakers. Distribute materials provided by GFWC partner organizations. Get involved with a Candlelight Vigil or Tree of Remembrance. Visit www.GFWC.org for more information. Provide local newspapers with press releases and write letters to the editor about domestic abuse and teen dating violence. Initiate a “Cut It Out” program with local hairdressers to educate their clients about domestic violence and where to get help in the community. Support local shelters by donating your time, needed articles such as toiletries, clothing and books, prepaid phone cards, offer to help renovate rooms, hold parties, adopt a family for the holidays. Participate in the “Sweet Dreams” Program by collecting new pajamas and nightgowns for women and children. Collect used cell phones, enlist a local store as a drop-off, collect phones, and then mail using prepaid shipping label found at www.NCADV.org. Provide childcare services while victims go to court or job interviews. Wear purple, during the month of October to show your support of Domestic Violence initiatives’.

PREVENTION

• There are numerous programs that clubs can sponsor or support such as:
• The Teen Action Campaign, See It and Stop It, a public education campaign by and for teens.  www.SeeItandStopIt.org
• Distribute Connect, a resource to help parents engage teens and adolescents in discussion about violence against women.  www.EndAbuse.org
• Educate club on childhood bullying. Work with schools, PTO’s and other groups to eliminate bullying. http://StopBullyingNow.hrsa.gov

RESOURCES   FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION FUND 383 Rhode Island St. Ste 304 San Francisco.CA 94103 Phone: 415/252-8900 Website/Email: www.EndAbuse.org/GFWCinfo@EndAbuse.org. NATIONAL COALITION AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PO Box 18749 Denver, CO 80218 Phone: 303/839-1852 fax: 303/831-9251 Website: www.NCADV.org NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE 3413 Bee Cave Rd, Austin, TX 78746 Phone: 512/685-6366 Website: www.NDVH.org Contact:Cheryl Cates-Hotline: 800/799-SAFETY NATIONAL NETWORK TO END DOMESTIC VIOLENCE 660 Pennsylvania Ave, SE, Ste 303, Washington, DC 20003 Phone: 202/543-5566, fax: 202/543-5626 Website: www.NNEDV.org Contact: Cheryl ODonnell-codonnell@nnedv.org NATIONAL RESOURCES CENTER ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE 6400 Flank Dr. Ste 1300, Harrisburg. PA 17112 Phone: 800/537-2238, Fax: 717/545-9456 Website: www.NRCDV.org CUT IT OUT Salons Against Domestic Violence 401 N. Michigan Ave, Ste 2200, Chicago, IL 60611 Phone: 312/527-6765 Website: www.CutItOut.org

AWARDS

CLUB
A $50 award is given annually to one club in the nation to recognize creativity in implementing an effective Domestic Violence Awareness Program.  The award is based on narrative reports.  State GFWC Domestic Violence Awareness Chairmen should forward the winning state entry to the national GFWC Domestic Violence Awareness Chairman by March 15th of each year.

STATE
GFWC certificates are awarded to one state federation in each membership category to recognize outstanding achievement in the GFWC Domestic Violence Awareness Program.  Award presentations are made annually in honor of junior and general membership participation.