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About Our Office

PROGRAM MISSION

Ensure the safety of victims of domestic violence by developing partnerships with community organizations to create a seamless system of services.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Domestic Violence Office serves as a clearinghouse for information relating to domestic violence and provides supervision, direction, coordination, and administration of statewide activities related to the prevention of domestic violence. (s. 39.903, F.S.)

SERVICE DESCRIPTION

Support community-based domestic violence services; promote coalition building at the local, state, and federal levels; conduct certification and evaluation of the state's domestic violence centers and batterers intervention programs; provide resources to local communities; identify and improve service quality and performance; promote public awareness and education initiatives; develop and direct policy; and provide information and technical support to public and private agencies.

ACTIVITY DESCRIPTIONS

  1. Resource Management
    1. Administer, plan, and manage budget, fiscal, purchasing and personnel activities.
    2. Conduct long range program planning and provide input for agency business plan.
    3. Develop and track annual office work plan and performance measures.
    4. Administer and manage over $26 million in state and federal grants:
      1. Capital Improvement Program - Collaborative effort with the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence to identify critical capital needs of certified centers and distribute appropriated funds for improvements. (s. 39.9055, F.S.)
      2. Domestic Violence Diversion program - TANF funding for the expansion and enhancement of services to eligible clients of domestic violence centers. The goal is to remediate the effects of domestic violence to allow the client to successfully obtain and maintain employment. (s. 414.157, F.S.)
      3. Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) - Federal funding for the prevention of family violence and the provision of emergency shelter and other services to victims and their dependents. (Pub. L. 98-457, 41 U.S.C., 10401.)
      4. Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Program - Federal funding for the promotion of partnerships among law enforcement, prosecution, the courts, and victim advocates allocated to ensure victim safety and offender accountability. (Pub. L. No. 106-386.)
  2. Program Planning
    1. Planning, Policy Development and Implementation
      1. Develop, direct, and interpret policy, rules, laws, procedures and guidelines for domestic violence programs.
      2. Develop, direct and interpret legislative issues for domestic violence programs.
      3. Define services to purchase and implement contract performance measures for domestic violence services provided by certified domestic violence centers and the statewide organization, the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
      4. Provide support, direction and resources to promote collaborative approaches to intervention and prevention of domestic violence.
      5. Provide information and technical assistance to executive staff, Governor's Office, Legislature, and other public and private agencies.
    2. Program Certification, Technical Assistance and Support
      1. Domestic Violence Centers Conduct the annual certification and monitoring of domestic violence centers provide technical assistance to districts and centers; develop and monitor contract performance standards; collect and analyze data; and report findings. (s. 39.903 and 39.905, F.S.)
        • Domestic violence centers are community-based agencies that provide services to adult victims of domestic violence and their children. Minimum services include temporary emergency shelter; information and referrals; safety planning, counseling and case management; a 24-hour emergency hotline; educational services for community awareness; assessment and appropriate referral of resident children; and training for law enforcement and other professionals.
      2. Batterers' Intervention Programs
        Conduct the annual certification and monitoring of batterers' intervention programs and assessors; collect fees; provide technical assistance; and collect and analyze data and report findings. (s. 741.32, 741.325, & 741.327, F.S.)
        • Batterers' intervention Programs (BIPs) are community-based programs that offer group education for men who have abused their intimate partner as defined in s. 741. 28, F.S. The goal of BIPs is to stop male violence and protect the victim by promoting awareness, individual accountability and respect.
  3. Program Development

    1. Research
      1. Data Collection
        Analyze and report on a variety of statistical data relating to domestic violence program activities. Specific data is collected from the certified domestic violence centers and batterers intervention programs, and other private providers that receive funding from the Domestic Violence Program.
      2. Report to the Legislature
        Analyze, evaluate and report on the status of domestic violence in the state annually. (s. 39.904, F.S.)
      3. Fatality Review Teams
        Provide information and technical assistance through training events and newsletters to each of the teams and assist with the development of new teams. (s. 741.316, F.S.)
        • Fatality Review Teams are community-based collaborative efforts established to review fatal and near-fatal incidents of domestic violence, related domestic violence matters and suicides. Their purpose is to learn how to prevent domestic violence by intervening early and improving the response of systems to domestic violence.
      4. Grants
        Develop and implement three-year plan for Violence Against Women (VAWA) STOP formula grant to the states; work with community partners on identifying and applying for competitive VAWA grant opportunities; define services to purchase under the grants, and formulate performance measures for grant-funded contracts.
    2. Education
      1. Governor's Public Awareness and Education Initiatives
        Work with the Office of the Governor on domestic violence prevention initiatives such as the annual "National Crime Victims Rights Week", the Cut out Domestic Violence campaign and similar awareness efforts.
      2. Domestic Violence Training
        Identify public and private community-based organizations, such as the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Florida Prosecuting Attorneys' Association, Supreme Court, local law enforcement agencies, and other organizations to develop curriculum and conduct training on domestic violence issues.
      3. Program Office Web Page
        Develop and maintain information on domestic violence services, activities, educational opportunities, certification requirements and similar information in an accessible and understandable format for other agencies, organizations and the general public.