Strategy: Organizational and Leadership Development

Six Rhode Island agencies are on a mission to educate all those at risk of domestic violence. With one in three Rhode Island children affected by such violence, their combined efforts cannot come too soon.

Already joined together as the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence (RICADV), the six member agencies provide prevention services in schools in their region, reaching out to elementary, middle and high school students.

Now, the network is armed with a $100,000 grant from the Foundation to share information, build upon the strengths of individual programs, and create best practices for prevention education.

RICADV executive director Deborah DeBare is optimistic that within three years the project will triple the school and community-based prevention education initiatives in the state.

“We always try to assist each of the member agencies to build upon their programs by learning what others are doing, not to duplicate services.”

The project also seeks to empower people who work with children – parents, teachers, counselors – to incorporate prevention education into the services they already offer.

“There are far more requests for prevention education services than there are prevention educators in most areas of the state,” DeBare shares.

Although the program is just getting started, the Network already has experienced
one unanticipated success.

“It’s encouraging how many students want to get involved,” DeBare shares, noting the increase in youth who want to volunteer and/or serve internships at the member agencies.

MEMBERS OF THE RICADV
• Blackstone Valley Advocacy Center
• Elizabeth Buffum Chace House
• Sojourner House
• Women’s Center of RI
• Women’s Resource Center of South County
• Women’s Resource Center of Newport & Bristol Counties