DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACTION CENTER
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Mission Statement
Domestic Violence Action Center (DVAC) is committed to addressing domestic violence and other forms of abuse through leadership, outreach, legal services, individual and systemic advocacy and social change work. We believe all persons should be treated with equality, dignity, and fairness. With high quality and culturally sensitive programs, delivered with integrity and compassion, we are creating safety and self-sufficiency for survivors and their children. Since 1990, DVAC has proven its incomparable value to the safety and well-being of the community by helping survivors and their families become safe and rebuild their lives without violence. DVAC serves survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) and their children on the island of O’ahu, and provides outreach and training statewide in Hawai’i. Intimate partner violence (IPV) continues to plague our island families with life altering effects and impacts business, academia, law enforcement, health care, courts. This burden results in great cost to sectors throughout the community. Societal misconceptions about IPV, coupled with issues surrounding survivors’ access to affordable options and remedy, contribute to the threat to survivors’ physical health, mental health, parenting, safety, housing security, employment, and financial stability. DVAC is a force for change in the community, devoted to safety and unduplicated, specialized services for those suffering the harm of domestic violence. DVAC serves approximately 5,000 clients each year, providing a comprehensive array of client-centered, trauma-informed, inclusive, and community-based programs and services.
About This Cause
DVAC offers a vast array of programs and services: HELPLINE (since 1988) – Callers receive immediate assistance and information about intimate partner violence and the community resource system. HELPLINE staff provides safety planning, crisis support, referrals to DVAC programs or community services, and information that can help survivors and their families make difficult decisions and learn about their options for getting free and safe. Calls to HELPLINE are anonymous and confidential. Alaka’i Advocacy Services (since 1997) – Alaka’i Advocates provide telephone and in-person long-term, intensive support to IPV survivors. Services include: crisis support, court accompaniment to court, school, psychological appointments, safety planning, risk assessments, referrals, assistance with other agencies they are involved with and access to emergency funds, medical services, academic scholarships and housing. Legal Services (since 1991) – DVAC attorneys and paralegals provide civil legal services as part of a triad model (advocate, attorney and paralegal). Caseloads include complex and potentially lethal divorce, restraining order, paternity, and post-decree matters. DVAC is the only agency in Hawai'i designed to accept such cases. EXPO Court Outreach Program (since 2001) – EXPO advocates are located on-site at Kapolei Family Court, Circuit Court and Honolulu District Court to support victims as they seek legal protection in civil court and serve as witnesses in criminal court. EXPO advocates provide crisis support, conduct risk assessments and safety planning, and accompany survivors and their families into the courtroom. Teen Alert Program (TAP808, since 2002) – TAP808 provides education about teen relationship violence. TAP808’s Educators visit schools and youth-serving organizations statewide to promote healthy relationships, alert youth to warning signs and address relationship violence. A Teen Advocate assists youth who are suffering the harm of relationship abuse. Ho'oikaika 'Ohana (HO'O, since 2013) – HO’O offers a unique opportunity for survivors and their families to reconnect with Native Hawaiian culture as a way to heal from trauma of abuse. Over 9 months, survivors, their keiki (children) and 'ohana (family) attend weekly group sessions. Together, they mend relationships through mo'olelo (stories) and cultural activities such as pounding kalo (taro) or dancing hula. HO'O was awarded the 2017 Roth Award from the Mary Byron Project for demonstrating particular promise in addressing IPV and its impact on underserved populations. HO'O is a crucial contribution to the community's continuum of services to Native Hawaiian families harmed by abuse. Pulama I Ka Ohana (PIKO, since 2013) – PIKO serves children witnesses and their non-offending parent survivor, offering education, skill-building, risk assessment and safety planning, client advocacy, crisis support, accompaniment to court, support groups, therapy for survivors and youth, and play therapy for young children. Campus Survivor Advocacy Program (CSAP, since 2016) – CSAP tailors advocacy to students and staff on community college and university campuses across the island of O‘ahu. CSAP serves both students and faculty through direct services, advocacy, and outreach opportunities. Specialized Advocacy Services (SAS, since 2017) – DVAC’s Specialized Advocacy Services (SAS) address the specific needs of COFA, Korean, Japanese and LGBTQ+ survivors with specialized advocates. SAS advocates conduct trainings and outreach on IPV in LGBTQ+ relationships and ethnic communities.