Restore…Rebuild…Renew…Revive…

SAVE THE DATE: Wednesday, September 15, 2010 is the date of this year’s national count.

BE A PART OF THIS COUNT
The 2010 Domestic Violence Counts: The National Census of Domestic Violence Services is designed to collect an unduplicated, non-invasive count of adults and children who receive services during one 24-hour survey period.

Attached is everything you need to participate–a short survey form, definitions, and frequently asked questions.

FREE LOCAL ADVOCATE CALLS
Please join us for one of 3 free conference calls for DV program—information shared on all the calls will be the same. Each call will cover the same information, last 30 minutes, and each will be held at 3pm Eastern Time on:

Wednesday September 1
Monday, September 13
Tuesday September 14

To join, please register at www.nnedv.org/CensusCalls

If you have any questions, you can email census@nnedv.org

NEXT STEPS

(1) Review the survey packet and email census@nnedv.org or call 202-543-5566 if you have questions.

(2) Identify who will be responsible for collecting the information and who will enter the information online.

(3) Discuss how you will count the number of people served and who will be responsible for collecting the counts during the 24-hour period.

2009 CENSUS REPORTS AVAILABLE

If you want to learn more about the previous three Census reports, go to: www.nnedv.org/census

Thanks to all of the amazing local programs and state coalitions that made the last year’s census counts so successful. We look forward to working with you for the 2010 count!

The Safety Net Project and the Entire Census Planning Team
at the National Network to End Domestic Violence

2010_NNEDV Survey_Packet FINAL.pdf

Flier Census10_DidYouCount.pdf

2001 S Street NW, Suite 400
Washington, DC 20009
202-543-5566 (p) ext 117
202-543-5626 (f)
Census@nnedv.org

Please introduce yourself and tell us about your organization.

My name is Lyn Twyman and I am the founder and creator of Courage Network, an online community for domestic violence survivors, advocates and organizations serving victims in any capacity.

Where are you located?

I am located outside the nation’s capital, Washington D.C.

Who or what was the inspiration behind Courage Network?

I am a childhood survivor of domestic violence and intimate partner
violence. I realized that I was a victim after a tragic incident in my
life with the loss of my first daughter. I went to counseling for my loss
and what began as grief therapy turned into the realization that I had been abused.

Later, I was trying to help a close family member who was a victim of
domestic violence. I learned that finding resources were not as clear cut as we would like them to be. There is help available for victims but
understanding where to get the right help and how they can apply to a
victim’s situation can be confusing. My relative happens to be an
immigrant which added another dynamic to the issue with visas and status.

At that point I felt compelled to draw connections from different angles
with this issue and Courage Network was launched a couple year later in February of this year.

We are more than a social networking community. We are a place providing information from victims and advocates across the world with interviews and feature articles discussing domestic violence and abuse victimization.

Does your organization have a motto which defines who you are and what you wish to become?

‘Building Courage By Working Together’ is our motto. First of all, it takes courage for victims of domestic violence to speak up, to no longer be silent to the abuse and to the abusers that victimized them. It takes courage for victims to understand their situation and make steps to change it, whether it’s developing a safety plan of escape, understanding how the situation developed and to reach out for help.

It takes courage for the advocates who are helping the victims to share a part of themselves in someone else’s pain and to clearly identify what
their needs are and maneuver the system, even when all the victim knows is fear and pain and nothing else. Lastly, it takes courage for everyone to collaborate selflessly and for agencies and organizations to assist those in need for services and support Too often victims are burned out from abuse, advocates get burned out from dealing with the pain of others and organizations get burned out justifying their existence to get funding (and) to stay operational. Thus, the reason why we all need to work together. At the end of the day it is courage that we exude in a collective effort that turns victims into survivors, that turns would be victims into non-statistics.

Courage Network wants to become the online community for domestic violence, offer comprehensive resources so victims and families understand how to get help and to help increase prevention by promoting awareness on the issue.

What are your short-term/long-term goals for Courage Network?

The overall goal of Courage Network is to support victims with the right kind of information and provide a place for people to network and share not only stories of their pain, but of their healing as well.

Helpmates are helpful on so many levels. Is your organization staffed or are you conquering great ground solo?

Courage Network is a solo operation that has the collaborative support of survivors, advocates, and organizations around the world.

Are there any other organizations that may grow out of Courage Network?

Courage Network is working on developing a comprehensive resource for victims and families to understand how to get the proper help for domestic violence.

If there are persons interested in sponsoring Courage Network or investing, how should they get in contact with you.

Anyone interested in sponsoring Courage Network can email
sponsor@couragenetwork.com

Any parting words for people weary in taking a leap of faith and starting a non-profit?

Know that it is a learning process and remember that the issue you are
tackling has many facets to it.  Seek to know the truth and God will reveal himself every step of the way.  Once you realize that God will guide and direct your steps on how to better serve others through your work.

Source: 20/20

Tonight (Thursday) at 9.30pm on TV2  20/20′s feature story is about domestic violence, here’s the blurb:

Close to home
They’re so common that sometimes they don’t even hit the headlines, but why is murdering a loved one simply seen as a fact of life in New Zealand? It sounds incredible that in this country, you’re actually safer on the street than you are in your own home. But last year 41 New Zealanders were killed by a member of their own family – and for every Kiwi who dies hundreds more are physically, sexually and emotionally abused.

In an extraordinary first 20/20′s Sonya Wilson went out on patrol with the cops trying to keep the peace in our homes – and brings you the incredible stories of the ordinary horror going on in your street every night. And the family of a woman killed by her former partner in an attack a judge labelled one of this country’s worst homicides speak out with a story they say that we all need to hear.

Welcome … and thanks for stopping by Touching Heart’s new blog! We’re excited about this new way of communicating with you.

We are providing a place where we will share vital information that pertains to domestic violence, our views, and community news.

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Restoring Faith, Building Hope

Brook J. Young
Founder/Executive Director