General Info:
New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence ( Coalition ) is a not-for-profit membership organization whose mission is to eradicate domestic violence and to ensure the provision of effective and appropriate services to victims of domestic violence through community outreach, education, training, technical assistance and policy development. The Coalition's principles and practices prioritize the safety and concerns of women who are abused, provide support and encouragement for the participation of women who are abused in the struggle to eradicate personal and institutional violence against them, and provide for a non-competitive atmosphere that fosters open communication, respect, and cooperation among advocates and women who are abused. Since its inception in 1978 in in Woodstock NY, the Coalition has been a driving force in the development of hundreds of programs throughout New York State that provide services for women who are abused and their children. As the only statewide domestic violence coalition in New York, members include all residential and non-residential programs in the state that are licensed by NYS Office for Children and Family Services ( OCFS ), as well as a host of other programs in NYS that serve women who are abused, and concerned individuals who share the Coalition's goal of ending domestic violence. Recognizing the need for a centralized crisis response, in 1981 the Coalition started the statewide domestic violence hotline. Subsequently, in 1985, the Coalition started the first statewide Spanish speaking domestic violence hotline, now operated by the Violence Intervention Program in NYC. The Coalition recently celebrated its 30th Anniversary, and over the past decades, the Coalition has grown considerably to provide myriad services for domestic violence programs in one of the most populated states in the country. Because New York State's 19 million residents live in large urban areas, suburban communities, and rural counties, the Coalition has developed an expertise in providing crucial services for a very unique and diverse population.