Virginia Anti-Violence Project

“Board members receives a copy of the 990 either at meetings or via email. Members are asked to review and comment prior to filing.”

“Board members are asked to review their relationships annually and to sign COI packs each year.”

“Key board members are tasked with reviewing local information in determining wages and benefits for the Executive Director. The results are presented to the full board for approval.”

“By request to the Executive Director or a board member.”

“sense of security, accompaniment and transportation so survivors can aiiend court proceedings, assistance with victim impact statements, helping survivors apply for public assistance, and locating external resources to help survivors in holistic ways. Additionally, VAVP has hosted panels/forums to increase awareness of services for LGBTQ+ survivors, served on commissions, task forces, coalitions, and working groups that promote efforts to aid survivors of violence, and written cooperative agreements/MOUs with other organizations to more comprehensively aide LGBTQ+ folks impacted by violence. Hotline/Crisis Counseling VAVP's model of service delivery centers meeting people where they are. Knowing that transportation is inaccessible for many LGBTQ+ survivors of violence, VAVP advocates also offer phone counseling as another avenue for support. In partnership with the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance, VAVP has a referral line through the Virginia's LGBTQ+ Helpline, where LGBTQ+ survivors can access 24/7 crisis counseling and get connected to more in-depth services with a VAVP advocate. Licensed Clinical Therapy Mental health services are both highly in demand and highly inaccessible. This is due to many reasons, such as transportation barriers, cost, or distrust of providers. We worked with contracted clinical therapists who are in the LGBTQ community and align with our values to provide counseling to our clients.(50 %) of our clientele have accessed our mental health services. Support Groups VAVP regularly participates in awareness-raising outreach work in LGBTQ+ centered events, spaces, and places providing resources and talking to folks about how violence impacts the lives of diverse LGBTQ+ individuals and the services that VAVP provides. We plan to enhance and expand these efforts to get networked in to LGBTQ+ events, spaces and places across Virginia. We recognize that these efforts will take me and patience and VAVP is prepared to do this work across the Commonwealth for the long haul. VAVP has facilitated support groups for LGBTQ+ survivors of violence and LGBTQ+ youth of color.”

“Immigration Assistance Any information and/or referrals provided to survivors / clients / community members that is centered for them to be able to understand where to look for resources and support as it relates to their specific needs connected to immigration circumstances / issues. We do not have any lawyers on staff, so we do not provide legal advice. We provide information to connect with other spaces, people, resources, lawyers that can provide support. Training and Technical Assistance Create and provide training and TA to mainstream domestic/sexual violence program service providers, any business, organization, workplace, service-provider, healthcare provider, mental health care provider, or others that is centered on developing and maintaining culturally specific services for diverse LGBTQ identified individuals who have been impacted by domestic/inmate partner violence, or any other experiences of violence. The goal is to increase knowledge on how to be most affirming and supportive to LGBTQ-identified individuals who have been impacted by violence, and to not continue to recreate patterns of violence and trauma on different spaces for LGBTQ+ diverse communities.”

“Youth Homelessness Referrals VAVP is a member of both the Central Virginia Youth Housing Stability Coalition and the LGBTQ+ Youth Housing Stability Collaborative to support young people's access to safe and affirming housing. Our program partners include Side By Side, an LGBTQ+ youth-serving organization for young people aged 11-25; Nations Foundation, a nonprofit that provides emergency housing to LGBTQ+ folks, a food pantry, and STI/HIV testing and linkage to care; and Advocates for Richmond Youth, a youth-led research and advocacy group. The collaborative efforts include direct housing support, peer navigation program, trainings, and feedback to center youth voice. Transportation Knowing that public transportation is nonexistent in rural communities, inefficient for those who rely on it, and often unsafe for LGBTQ+ individuals, VAVP offers transportation support to survivors of violence. Translation and Interpretation Services One of VAVP's organizational values is Language Justice, as one of the forefront English/Spanish language accessible statewide organizations specifically supporting LGBTQ+ survivors of violence. Language Justice involves providing services accessible in Spanish and English, translating our written materials, providing simultaneous interpretation at our events, and programming that is culturally specific. 25% of our clientele is Spanish speaking, and we are committed to ensuring that everyone we serve can access all of our programming. Referral to STI and HIV/AIDS Education, Testing, Prevention We partner with Naonz Foundaon, a non-profit started by a Black trans woman that focuses on ridding the stigma around sexual health and STI testing, as well as increasing accessibility to these services. One VAVP staff member is a trained HIV test counselor, and we also link folks to Naonz for other STI and HIV testing as well. Community Conversations and Accountability VAVP hosts regular community events, which include annual community retreats focused on holistic healing from violence, community conversations to have candid conversations about experiences of violence and healing, workshops to build healthy relationship skills, and gathering space for LGBTQ+ folks to be in community together. Because VAVP is focused on healing of all sorts, especially after community-wide tragedies, we often hold space to do so collectively. We offer services to those who are survivors, and we practice restorative and transformative justice by also giving space for the beginnings of trauma, and offering solutions and conversation space for alternatives to the carceral system.”

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