Membership Application Process Thank you for your interest in joining the DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Below you will find information about membership criteria, the application process and requirements for membership. We are pleased you are interested in joining our coalition, our voices united and amplified strengthen our ability to help survivors build safe and secure lives. The DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence (DCCADV) accepts applications for membership between April 1 - July 31 on an annual basis. From August 1 - January 31 of each year, DCCADV reviews applications and conducts assessments of applicant organizations. After this review process is completed, an applicant may be granted provisional membership for a six month period. At the end of the provisional membership period, DCCADV assesses the applicant s participation in Coalition activities and adoption of best practices. Applicants who are recommended for full membership are then presented to the DCCADV Board of Directors for approval as a full member. The entire application process lasts one year. Application Submission: April 1 July 31 4 month period to submit applications for membership Applicant completes a Membership Application Form (copy enclosed) Applicant must sign statement agreeing to DCCADV Mission and Guiding Principles (copy enclosed) Applicant submits a signed, completed application, together with documents requested in Checklist to Accompany Assessment Application Review: August 1 January 31 6 month review period by DCCADV and its Standards Committee (comprised of representatives from member programs) DCCADV reviews Membership Application DCCADV staff completes Initial Assessment within 3 months Standards Committee completes Second Stage Assessment upon completion of Initial Assessment Standards Committee conducts site visit includes ED interview and an interview with program staff person DCCADV provides technical assistance on best practices and model policies, as needed Applicants must operationalize or make substantial practices in operationalizing best practices in survivor-centered advocacy during the application year Standards Committee presents applications to DCCADV membership for review 1
Provisional Membership: February 1 July 31 6 month provisional membership period Applicant will attend DCCADV membership meetings ED or designee, no voting rights Applicant is welcome to attend any Advanced Trainings (ATs), and the Domestic Violence Advocate Core Competency Training (DV ACT), especially staff that need advocate privilege or are working with survivors DCCADV will assess applicant for participation in DCCADV membership meetings, trainings (ATs and DV ACT) and adoption of best practices Applicant will submit 3 letters of support to the Standards Committee: one letter each from a current member program, a survivor, and a member of the Applicant s board. Standards Committee representative will present those applicants who are recommended for full membership to the DCCADV Board of Directors for approval for full membership during the 3 rd quarter meeting each year Full Membership: August 1 Full membership granted based on successful completion of application process and provisional membership period, submission of 3 letters of support and approval of the DCCADV Board of Directors Applicants may decide to withdraw their application at any time. An application will be denied if the program does not complete all of the application process requirements during the appropriate time periods. 2
Membership Benefits DCCADV seeks to advance the anti-domestic violence movement in metropolitan Washington, DC, promote awareness of emerging standards and best practices in the anti-domestic violence field, and provide innovative services for the education and professional development of its members. The Coalition offers the following specific benefits to members, as resources allow: Discounts on registration fees for DCCADV bi-annual conference (to include training workshops, information about best practices, networking opportunities) Training and technical assistance on emerging domestic violence issues, general non-profit issues, and policy advocacy Promotion of members and help raising their visibility with a wide variety of audiences Assistance in developing collaborative relationships and partnerships Media and communications support The Coalition recognizes the leadership and expertise of its members in the community and will facilitate opportunities for members to lead trainings and provide technical assistance to other members. The Coalition will also recruit national and local experts for various trainings. In addition to these specific benefits, many DCCADV activities will benefit the broader domestic violence community, regardless of whether an organization or individual is a member. For example, the Coalition will implement a policy/advocacy agenda that individual organizations may not have the resources to implement on their own. It will also carry out public awareness campaigns to raise awareness about domestic violence issues. It will continue to make information about domestic violence trends and issues, pending legislation, etc., available through its website and communications venues. DCCADV membership has three tiers: Primary Purpose Domestic Violence Organizations - organizations whose mission is to support survivors of domestic violence and their families Ally Organizations organizations whose work intersects with and impacts survivors and their families or who have a domestic violence component to their work Supporters corporations, entities, agencies, government agencies and individuals who actively support our work 3
Benefits for Primary Purpose Domestic Violence Organizations One year provisional membership during application review, includes site visit Semi-Annual Conference Quarterly Membership Meetings Voting Rights on Annual Policy Initiatives Quarterly Advanced Training Topics DV ACT Policy Task Force Housing Work Group DVAM Work Group Training Work Group Participation in ED and Advocates Listserv Option to apply to serve on DCCADV s Board of Directors Assisting with statewide fundraising efforts Action Alerts Technical Assistance Media Support Public Awareness Campaigns Emergency/Crisis Support example: a death in your community resulting from domestic violence Benefits for Ally Organizations Must adopt DCCADV Guiding Principles (Confidentiality, Accessibility and Empowerment) Semi-Annual Conference Quarterly Advanced Training Topics DV ACT Policy Task Force (no voting capacity) Housing Work Group DVAM Work Group Training Work Group Action Alerts Technical Assistance Media Support Public Awareness Campaigns 4
Benefits for Collaborators Must commit to Guiding Principles (Confidentiality, Accessibility and Empowerment) Semi-Annual Conference Quarterly Advanced Training Topics DV ACT Policy Task Force (no voting capacity) Housing Work Group DVAM Work Group Training Work Group Action Alerts Technical Assistance Media Support Public Awareness Campaigns 5
DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence Mission and Guiding Principles Vision Statement We envision living in a violence-free city and community where there is equality, safety, justice and peace. Mission Statement DCCADV s mission is to build a community where domestic violence is replaced with human dignity. We advance our mission through advocacy, community education, outreach, public policy, technical assistance and training, resource sharing and research. Guiding Principles 1. Respect and Dignity. We are dedicated to promoting equality, respect, and dignity among all people. We value all survivors, ourselves, and each other and support the people we serve. 2. Social Justice. We demand that all people live free from violence, economic deprivation, discrimination, and prejudice. We are dedicated to the inclusion and active participation of individuals and groups that have traditionally and historically been devalued or excluded. 3. Trauma-Informed. We see each individual we serve and those that we work with through a trauma-informed lens. Trauma-informed means we recognize and respond to the effects of all types of trauma a person has experienced at any point in their lifetime. We are flexible in our policies and practices and embrace safety, collaboration, and trustworthiness. 4. Cultural Competency. We honor the uniqueness of every individual we serve and allow for differences. We honor culture, tradition, religion, age and sexual orientation and identity. Examples include the elderly, people of color, the LGBTQ community, people with physical and/or intellectual disabilities, immigrants, and those living in poverty. 5. Confidentiality. We honor confidentiality and each person s right to decide who knows their story. We safeguard and respect the privacy of all the people we support; individuals, families, and service providers. 6. Self Agency. We are committed to ensuring quality services for victims, survivors, and their children. We, therefore, are committed to empowering all people with 6
the freedoms and choices to be self-sustaining with fundamental human rights, especially victims and survivors of domestic violence. 7. Survivor Centered Supports. We honor each individual survivor and fully support their needs and decisions. As advocates, our allegiance is the person we support, all other activities and functions we perform flow from this allegiance. We assist people to direct the course of their own lives; survivors make, act on, and take responsibilities for their own decisions. 8. Accessibility. We recognize that domestic violence has devastating effects on all victims but that some face additional and unique barriers to safety. We advocate for justice, inclusion, and full community participation, removing barriers, real or perceived, to encourage participation. The Coalition believes the special needs of these populations must be considered in the development, outreach, and delivery of victim services. 9. Accountability. We believe that all people should have an active voice in the policies and practices that affect them. We are committed to ensuring that the voices, opinions, and concerns of victims, survivors and their children constantly guide and inform our work. We believe that everyone must work together to affect a coordinated community response for there to be a successful shift in societal attitudes and beliefs about domestic violence. 10. Self Care. We advocate for practices that help the people we serve and our staff feel connected and supported. We are committed to each individual s sense of belonging and value and recognize autonomy while being attentive to vicarious trauma, re-victimization, and burn out. 7
Membership Application Form. Date of application Organization name Contact person Mailing address City State Zip Business Phone Crisis Phone Fax E-mail Organization web site address Areas of Service (check all that apply): DC MD VA Other Please briefly describe what your program does and whom it serves: Names/contact names/addresses/phone numbers/fax/e-mail contact for all satellite offices of your organization (please use an additional sheet of paper if necessary) 8
Membership Participation Form The DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence can only succeed in ending domestic violence with the contribution of the time and skills of its member programs. Members are asked to participate in some or all of the following activities, depending upon the capacity and resources of the organization. These activities are open to member organization staff, board members, volunteers and/or survivors. Organization Name Contact Person Address City State Zip Phone Fax E-Mail Please indicate which DCCADV activities your program plans to participate in. DCCADV Governance: Apply to serve on the DCCADV Board of Directors Policy and Advocacy Efforts: Participate in policy advocacy activities, such as meeting with elected officials and testifying before DC Council Membership Committee Opportunities: Attend quarterly Policy Task Force Attend quarterly Housing Task Force Attend quarterly DCCADV Membership Meetings Participate in an annual policy priorities survey Respond to DCCADV Action Alerts Attend quarterly DVAM Work Group Attend quarterly Training Work Group 9
Training Opportunities: Staff will complete DCCADV s Domestic Violence Advocate Core Competencies Training (DV ACT), offered twice a year Participate in DCCADV Conferences Attend DCCADV s quarterly Advanced Topic Trainings Public Awareness Efforts: Participate in DCCADV-sponsored public awareness efforts such as Domestic Violence Awareness Month activities Contact DCCADV if there is a homicide in your community and work with local media Share your organization s events via the Coalition s events calendar Contribute to the Coalition s newsletter Complete annual membership survey 10
Checklist and Membership Agreement We have reviewed the following (these do NOT need to be returned to DCCADV): Membership Application Process DCCADV Mission and Guiding Principles Membership Benefits Checklist to Accompany Assessment for Membership We are applying for membership by submitting the following documents to DCCADV: Member Program Application Form (required) Membership Participation Form (required) Documents requested in the DCCADV Assessment (required) Checklist to Accompany Assessment for Provisional Members and Allies signature page (required) DCCADV Board Member Nomination Form (optional) By signing below, we agree to actively promote and operationalize the Mission and Guiding Principles of DCCADV: Signed Date Printed Name Please submit completed Application to membership@dccadv.org 5 Thomas Circle, NW Washington, DC 20005 tel 202.299.1181 fax 202.299.1193 www.dccadv.org