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What Do Professionals Need to Know?

Model Domestic Violence Policy for Counties

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This model policy is a tool, not a plan


The Model Domestic Violence Policy for Counties IS INTENDED to:

  • promote consistency and coordination by and between county level agencies and departments;

  • reflect a comprehensive set of "best practice" responses to domestic violence;

  • provide additional guidance to county communities in their efforts to strengthen responses to domestic violence;

  • assist in evaluating current policies and practices, identifying existing gaps, and setting goals for future action;

  • assist in the identification of policy directions that do not require additional resources;

  • be consistent with state and federal statutes as of the date of issuance, January 1, 1998.

The Model Policy IS NOT INTENDED to:

  • provide detailed, specific implementation directions. While an overall implementation strategy should reflect the priorities of victim safety and abuser accountability outlined in this policy, the ways to get there may vary greatly from one community to another. For example, resources may be tapped as part of an implementation strategy in one community that do not exist in another.

  • serve as an exhaustive set of recommendations, but rather as a solid foundation of information and guidance to further reinforce the work of counties.

For implementation assistance:

  • See Appendix A for a list of agencies in New York State that offer training and technical assistance on domestic violence generally, and/or on domestic violence as it impacts diverse groups.

  • See Appendix B for a list of print resources available from OPDV and other New York State agencies.

  • Contact the NYS Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence. OPDV can provide technical assistance on policy development and implementation to county and local officials, criminal and civil justice, judicial, health and human services professionals, and staff of other community-based agencies. OPDV can also provide technical assistance on a wide range of topics including, but not limited to, interdisciplinary coalition building, goal-setting, conflict resolution, cross-systems accountability, leveraging funding and resources; implementation of community needs assessments; strengthening the capacity of communities to monitor systems' responses; and developing local domestic violence public education campaigns.