CCADV Press Releases

With domestic violence organizations seeing an increase in calls for help, Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CCADV) and our 18 member organizations want to remind everyone that help is available 24/7 throughout COVID-19. CCADV offers the following data available from various stakeholders within Connecticut’s domestic violence response system: CT Safe Connect/Statewide Hotline Contact to Safe Connect, Connecticut’s centralized domestic violence resource hub, has been consistent. There were 1,060 contacts in January, 1,284 contacts in February, and 1,314 contacts in March. 7% of individuals who contacted Safe Connect over the past two weeks expressed concerns related specifically to COVID-19. The majority of victims and survivors seeking assistance through Safe Connect do so via phone call as opposed to chat or email (texting is temporarily unavailable during this remote work period).

The Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CCADV) today thanked Governor Lamont for yesterday’s Executive Order creating an alternative to affidavits in restraining orders. The Executive Order, coupled with new processes established by the CT Judicial Branch, will allow victims to apply for a restraining order completely electronically without having to go to court. Effective Monday, April 6, 2020, CCADV, CT Safe Connect and advocates at our 18 member organizations will be able to assist victims with completing the restraining order application remotely.

Today Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CCADV) announced that it will provide transportation to any domestic violence victims seeking to apply for a restraining order. Noting necessary court closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic, CCADV has noticed a downward trend in restraining order applications and wants to ensure that all victims have access to this important safety measure. CCADV is partnering with Lindsey Limousine.

Last year 4,600 children walked through the doors of Connecticut’s 18 domestic violence organizations. Nearly 1,000 of those kids, most 6 years or younger, stayed in a domestic violence shelter with a parent. While their needs vary, they were all experiencing trauma and required the support and guidance of a child and family advocate within each domestic violence organization. Unfortunately services to these children are negatively impacted by a lack of funding that is limited to supporting .3 FTE (full-time employee) at each of the 18 sites. Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CCADV) is calling on the state to fully fund these critical positions.

This week marks 100 days since Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CCADV) launched Safe Connect, Connecticut’s new domestic violence resource hub. In those first 100 days, Safe Connect was contacted over 3,000 times by more than 1,800 people seeking assistance via this new platform that allows for text, chat and email in addition to traditional hotline phone calls.