What We Do
Our Vision:
All New Hampshire communities provide safety for every person.
Our Mission
The New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence creates safe and just communities through advocacy, prevention and empowerment of anyone affected by sexual violence, domestic violence and stalking.
This mission is accomplished by the Coalition, which includes 14 independent community-based member programs, a Board of Directors and a central staff working together to:
- Influence public policy on the local, state and national levels;
- Ensure that quality services are provided to victims;
- Promote the accountability of societal systems and communities for their responses to sexual violence, domestic violence and stalking;
- Prevent violence and abuse before they occur.
How is the Coalition different from a crisis center?
The most important difference is that the Coalition does not provide direct services to victims, but supports the victim services work done by our individual member programs located in communities throughout the state.
We are an umbrella organization that provides technical and financial support to 14 member agencies who provide services to survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and stalking. Member agency services are free, confidential, and available to all victims regardless of age, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, physical ability or financial status.
Coalition Role |
Member Program Role |
| Supports member program staff and executive directors with specialized training and resources | Trained advocates provide shelter, support and intervention in person and through 24-hour hotlines |
| Convenes member programs to facilitate shared learning and peer support | Creates and shares strategies, mentors one another, and participates on working committees and on the Coalition board of directors |
| Coordinates Americorps Victim Assistance Program (AVAP) | Directs and supervises Americorp (AVAP) members providing services to survivors |
| Collects and disseminates best practices and current information | Implements Coalition-wide Program Standards |
| Directs Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE)program, which trains nurses to conduct forensic exams and provide compassionate care to victims | Accompanies survivors during sexual assault exams and provides ongoing support and referrals |
| Collaborates with legal assistance organizations to provide lawyers for survivors and their families | Connects survivors with attorneys and advocates for pro bono representation |
| Promotes cross-system collaboration with child protective services and child advocacy centers to assure safety for children exposed to or who have experienced domestic and sexual violence, and for their parents | Provides services to children and parents through shelters, child advocacy centers and child protection offices |
| Advocates on the state and federal levels for effective and coordinated public and private services for survivors | Develops and maintains relationships with local organizations to assure full and effective services, and connects survivors with those services |
Coalition Role |
Member Program Role |
| Educates the public on the causes and effects of domestic and sexual violence and stalking and the services available across the state | Conducts community and school-based education programs for 55,000 people annually |
| Sponsors research on the prevalence of violence in New Hampshire | Participates in research, disseminates information, and advocates for more-effective responses to survivors |
| Provides resources and sources for responsible news media and reporting | Connects news media with local advocates and survivors willing to tell their stories |
| Develops statewide plans to prevent domestic and sexual violence | Implements prevention programs in communities |
Coalition Role |
Member Program Role |
| Works with state government to create and defend effective laws and policies | Informs discussion about needed reforms, and identifies and supports survivors who share their stories |
| Provides leadership within national organizations to promote funding, laws and policies on the federal level | Provides direction for and feedback to proposals from federal organizations and other states and coordinates and mobilizes grassroots advocates |
| Participates in numerous statewide boards and commissions to advocate for effective responses to victims. | Works with local first responders to assure laws and policies are followed |
