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West Virginia (multiple locations)

Project Name

West Virginia SAFE Partnership

Partners

Center for Excellence in Disabilities
(http://www.cedwvu.org)

Northern West Virginia Center for Independent Living
(http://www.nwvcil.org/)

West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources
(http://www.wvdhhr.org/)

West Virginia Foundation for Rape Information and Services
(http://www.fris.org/)

Overview

WV S.A.F.E. Partnership is collaboration formed in early 2006 and is funded under the Education and Technical Assistance to End Violence Against Women with Disabilities grant award program through the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women. The collaboration consists of four core team partners: the West Virginia Foundation for Rape Information and Services (WVFRIS), the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (WVDHHR), the West Virginia University Center for Excellence in Disabilities (CED), and the Northern West Virginia Center for Independent Living (NWVCIL). The purpose of the collaboration is to create permanent systems changes in the delivery of services for sexual assault survivors with disabilities and Deaf women through education, and the identification and implementation of changes in organizational procedures and policies.

In preparing to meet this objective, WV SAFE Partnership conducted a needs assessment in three counties in north central West Virginia: Marion, Ohio, and Preston. The needs assessment helped WV SAFE identify gaps and barriers in services and policies that impede the provision of effective, accessible services and the seamless provision of services to survivors of sexual assault among women with disabilities and Deaf women. These barriers and gaps will be addressed by formal collaborations among existing community-based sexual assault service providers, advocates, disability service providers, persons with disabilities, Deaf women and the state and local oversight agencies (including medical professionals and other professionals) charged with protecting and serving victims/survivors of sexual assault with disabilities and Deaf women. The WV S.A.F.E Partnership will support these community collaborations by developing a review process for their policies and practices for accessibility and responsiveness and creating on-going training opportunities for the staffs of each agency.

The objective of these efforts will be to ensure that new and existing policies and procedures are institutionalized as a part of each organization’s standard practices – ensuring that all women who are victims of sexual violence have equal access to effective support and services.

Contact Information 

West Virginia Foundation for Rape Information Services

Nancy Hoffman
304-366-9500 (v)
wvfris@verizon.net