History

 The Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Inc. (CCADV) joined the national movement in domestic violence in 1978 as a network of shelters concerned about domestic violence in Connecticut and the nation. Since its beginning, CCADV has served the voice representing the needs of domestic violence service providers and the victims they serve throughout Connecticut.

CCADV History Timeline:

  • 1978 - Founded as “Connecticut Task Force on Abused Women”
  • 1986 - Successfully worked to ensure passage of Connecticut’s Family Violence Prevention and Response Act (FVPRA)
  • 1993 - Developed Program Standards for Member Programs to establish a basic level of service in each domestic violence program
  • 1998 - CCADV and Greater Hartford Legal Aid (GHLA) formed a collaborative project named the “Legal Advocacy Project” (LAP)
  • 1999 - Began a collaborative project with Greater Hartford Legal Aid, Connecticut Legal Services, and New Haven Legal Assistance called the “Connecticut Domestic Violence Legal Assistant Partnership Initiative”
  • 1999 - CCADV and Connecticut Sexual Assault Crisis Services (CONNSACS) received a planning grant from the U.S. Department of Justice - VAWA to work collaboratively to assist rural northeast Connecticut with developing a community based and victim focused response to violence against women and children
  • 2000 - Awarded funds to provide services to victims whose offenders are in a sanctions program through the Hartford Courts   
  • 2000 - Obtained approval from the Office of Policy and Management to conduct a study on dual arrest in Connecticut, due to concerns raised by victim advocates who were frustrated by the high number of arrests for domestic violence victims
  • 2001 - Connecticut Judicial Branch announced the development of two new dockets in Stamford and Hartford 
  • 2001 - Initiated a public awareness campaign in collaboration with the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence with a focus on teen dating violence
  • 2002 - Rural Grant created a public awareness campaign and the infrastructure to assist all victims of domestic violence and child sexual victimization in a way that transcended shame and guilt to an approach that offered support, confidentiality, advocacy and healing.
  • 2002 - LAP worked with CCADV on the Dual Arrest Study Initiative
  • 2002 - Dual arrest study initiative report was completed
  • 2002 - Formed a new partnership with the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) to develop and facilitate a plan of action to provide “trauma sensitive” services to victims of domestic violence  
  • 2003 - Awarded additional STOP-VAWA funds from OPM to begin a Victim Advocate Law Enforcement (VALE) Project
  • 2004 - Held a public forum to provide an opportunity for members of Connecticut’s domestic violence community to engage in an open dialogue around the issue of dual arrest and its impact on victims
  • 2004 - CT Initiative to End Violence Against Women with Disabilities was begun when awarded grant
  • 2003-2005, the Rural Grant continued in Northeastern Connecticut and the Rural Domestic Violence Initiative has now extended into Northwest Connecticut

In future years, CCADV and our member programs will continue to reach out to victims, wherever they may be found. CCADV’s goal is to forge new partnerships and strengthen existing ones with state and local agencies; and increase funding to member programs that will ultimately improve services for all victims of domestic violence.