The act of law making

A proposed or enacted law or group of laws

• Enacted 32 bills (1/3

the amount of

Maryland

• Recognized as one of

the states with the

least legislation

• General Assembly

enacted 98 bills

• Recognized as state

with the most

legislation

1)The Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA)

2)The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)

• FVPSA used federal grants to fund state and local programs as well as specialized training for helping professionals.

• Under the grants, services such as emergency shelters, hotlines, counseling and advocacy and prevention were provided to survivors.

• Bill established the first domestic violence hotline, which was operated by skilled professionals in over 170 languages. The number was toll-free and was staffed 24 hours/7 days a week.

• Signed into law by Bill Clinton in 1994

• Created first U.S. federal legislation to acknowledge domestic violence and sexual assault as crimes.

• VAWA introduced harsher penalties for crossing state lines to abuse someone and for those who violate an order of protection.

• Made it illegal for anyone facing a restraining order for domestic abuse to own a firearm.

VAWA Reauthorization• In March of 2013, Obama signed the

reauthorization bill into law.

• Survivors that were previously overlooked, were now entitled to services and protection under the law.

• Act included help for survivors that were evicted from their homes due to domestic violence or stalking, programs for survivors with disabilities, and legal aid.

What can you do to create change?

Answer: TAKE ACTION!

•You can start by contacting your congressmen.

•NY Senators are Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand. You can go on their webpages

and get their contact information.

•I hope this presentation was informative and will be

• put to good use!

• About OVW Grant Programs (n.d.). Retrieved May 15, 2015, from http://www.justice.gov/ovw/grant-programs.

  • Cardin, B. (2013, March 4). Women’s History Month:

Looking Back on Domestic Violence. Retrieved May 8, 2015, from http://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/news/womens-history-month-looking-back-on-domestic -violence.

 • Department of Health and Human Services & Office on

Women’s Health. (2012). Laws on Violence Against Women. Retrieved May 8, 2015, from http://womenshealth.gov/violence-against-women/laws-on-violence-against-women.

 • Karger, H., & Stoesz, D. (2002). American Social Welfare

Policy: A Pluralist Approach (4th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon.

• Family Violence Legislation. (n.d.). Retrieved May 15, 2015, from http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/family-violence-prevention-services/about

 • Family Violence Prevention and Services Act. (n.d.). Retrieved

May 15, 2015, from http://nnedv.org/policy/issues/fvpsa.html. • Federal Domestic Violence Legislation: The Violence Against

Women Act- FindLaw. (n.d.). Retrieved May 17, 2015, from http://family.findlaw.com/domestic-violence/federal-domestic-violence-legislation-the-violence-against-women.html

• Oregon Department of Justice. (n.d.). Retrieved May 17, 2015, from http://www.doj.state.or.us/victims/Pages/voca_history.aspx

  •  The Social Work Response to Domestic Violence. (n.d.). Retrieved

May 17, 2015, from http://www.socialworkers.org/pressroom/events/domestic_violence/response.asp

• The Social Work Response to Domestic Violence. (n.d.). Retrieved May 17, 2015, from http://www.socialworkers.org/pressroom/events/domestic_violence/response.asp

 • The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA): Renewal Passes the House

and Senate and Signed into Law. (2013). Retrieved May 17, 2015, from http://www.nnedv.org