October 9, 2024
Statement of Esta Soler,
President and Founder, Futures Without Violence
Contact: Lisa Lederer, 202/371-1997
40th Anniversary of FVPSA a Time to Boost Our Investments in Violence Prevention, Health
“Enactment of the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) in October of 1984 changed our country in profound and positive ways, making our society safer, stronger, and more just. This landmark legislation funded shelters and services for those facing domestic violence and their children, creating pathways to safety for those who had long been without. Over time, this transformative law helped create what has become a nationwide system of shelters and programs serving survivors and their children, and a network of resource centers that continue improving our response to abuse to this day. The work it supports is lifesaving.
Even before we were incorporated as an independent nonprofit, Futures Without Violence helped convince Congress to pass FVPSA. We have served as the FVPSA-supported National Health Resource Center on Domestic Violence for 20 years, improving the health care response to domestic and sexual violence and helping medical professionals learn to identify and support survivors, rather than treating them and returning them home to face further abuse. FVPSA supports our Promising Futures initiative, which provides technical assistance and support to domestic violence state coalitions, tribes, local community-based programs, and child-serving systems that are enhancing services for children affected by domestic violence. And it supports resource centers, tribes, tribal coalitions, and 53 state and U.S. territory domestic violence coalitions that are doing vitally important work, as well as state and community prevention grants administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
On this anniversary, as we celebrate FVPSA’s impact and accomplishments, we are also considering how we can enhance its reach. We believe our society would benefit tremendously from greater investments in improving health, preventing violence, and promoting healing. We will work to make that happen in the months and years ahead.”
# # # #
ABOUT FUTURES WITHOUT VIOLENCE:
For more than 35 years, FUTURES has been providing groundbreaking programs, policies and campaigns that empower individuals and organizations working to end violence against women and children around the world. Striving to reach new audiences and transform social norms, FUTURES trains professionals such as doctors, nurses, judges and athletic coaches on improving responses to violence and abuse. FUTURES also works with advocates, policymakers and others to build sustainable community leadership and educate people everywhere about the importance of respect and healthy relationships. More information is available at www.futureswithoutviolence.org.
