|
Keene Sentinel October 2, 2021 Experts say, however, that mental health and poor anger management are too often blamed for acts of domestic violence, according to N.H. Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence spokeswoman Alyssa Dandrea.
Dandrea, whose organization comprises programs in the state that offer services to survivors and inform policymakers on issues of domestic and sexual violence, said abuse is an “intended” form of violence — meaning perpetrators can, but choose not to, refrain from their actions. The Laconia Daily Sun September 2, 2021 An enhanced texting feature is now available for those who want to communicate with 9-1-1 for help in an emergency. The upgraded service which went in service Monday provides a life-saving option for people in situations, including domestic violence, where it is too dangerous to dial 9-1-1.
Texting can be a safer or more effective way to communicate with 9-1-1 in a number situations, including a caller who is deaf, or in the case of a home invasion or domestic or sexual abuse. “Someone could escape to a bathroom or go outside where the person they are in fear of won’t be aware they are calling for help,” said Alyssa Dandrea, a communications relations specialist for the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. “It gives them another avenue for getting help.” Another advantage is that texts can often get through when voice calls cannot. The benefit of texting in certain emergency instances is the reason that the coalition added a text option on its statewide crisis line, Dandrea said. This added feature has been valuable during the pandemic when the number of calls to the crisis line increased 63%, Dandrea said. WMUR September 1, 2021 New Hampshire's "text to 911" has expanded to be able to pinpoint where the message was sent in a quicker and more accurate way.
"Increasing options for a victim of violence to access help is always positive," explained Lyn Schollett, the executive director of New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. "Abusers count on isolations to prevent victims from seeking help so this tool will help victims get the emergency assistance they need more quickly and hopefully more safely." WOMEN ON A MISSION-MEET THE WOMEN WHO LED THE NONPROFIT SECTOR WITH RESILIENCE IN TIMES OF CRISIS8/31/2021
NH Business Review August 18, 2021 More than a year of crisis has created untold need in New Hampshire. The state’s nonprofits — many of them women-led — stepped in to help meet that need, all the while having to navigate the immense obstacles the pandemic posed. Here we spotlight the weighty and wondrous work of some of those women and their organizations.
Lyn Schollett of NH Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence When stay-at-home orders were issued as the pandemic began to take hold, it had a profound impact on survivors of domestic and sexual abuse. “They were trapped at home with their abusers and increasingly isolated from services and people who could help them,” says Lyn Schollett, executive director of the Concord-based NH Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence. With a mission to create safe and just communities through advocacy, prevention and empowerment of anyone affected by domestic violence and sexual assault, as well as stalking and human trafficking, Schollett says the Coalition launched a statewide media campaign to reach survivors and worked collaboratively with their 12 crisis centers to quickly implement new online chat, text and video services. They also worked with courts to allow victims to file for restraining orders online and to make sure there was enough funding to place survivors fleeing abuse in hotels when shelters were full. Schollett says the pandemic worsened stresses that victims already face — among them, economic hardship, the absence of school and childcare, and extreme isolation. “Through it all,” she says, “crisis center advocates continued to be innovative, scrappy, and completely focused on the well-being and safety of victims KUSTER MEETS WITH NH COALITION AGAINST DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE, HIGHLIGHTS SURVIVOR SERVICES8/19/2021
Nashua Telegraph August 13, 2021 “Throughout the last 18 months, we have witnessed the incredible resilience of advocates at New Hampshire’s crisis centers as they worked tirelessly to pivot services to meet the changing needs of survivors and respond to the shadow pandemic of domestic and sexual violence in the wake of COVID-19,” said Pamela Keilig, Public Policy Specialist at the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. “This past year has introduced a host of new challenges, while simultaneously adding to the barriers that many survivors face in accessing critical, life-saving services in their greatest hour of need. However, we must recognize that we are living in a sustained pandemic that will have long-term, ripple effects and continue to shape how we move forward as a state and nation to address violence in our communities. We are grateful to Congresswoman Kuster for her unwavering support for survivors in New Hampshire and her ongoing commitment to ensuring that advocates have essential resources to meet the needs of survivors throughout the Granite State.”
Yahoo News/Union Leader August 11, 2021 "The state's current background check system provides the necessary safeguards to ensure that dangerous abusers will not have access to firearms that can be used to kill their victims. Victim safety must remain paramount when considering any changes to our background check system in New Hampshire," said Amanda Grady Sexton, director of public affairs for the Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence.
NH News Bulletin August 10, 2021 Gov. Chris Sununu vetoed two bills that would have ended the state’s Gun Line Tuesday, halting a proposal by some gun rights advocates to send all firearm background check requests to the FBI.
In a long-awaited decision, Sununu struck down Senate Bill 141 and House Bill 334, two bills that would have made broad changes for how handgun background checks are run. Some advocates for the veto thanked Sununu for his decision Tuesday. “We applaud Gov. Sununu for vetoing SB 141 and HB 334,” the Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence said in a statement. “We are grateful that our background check system will remain strong and responsive to protect victims of crime in New Hampshire.” WMUR August 10, 2021 The chief spokesperson for New Hampshire’s leading advocacy group on behalf of victims of sexual and domestic abuse issued a comment on Cuomo’s resignation and attempt to explain his behavior.
“We commend the 11 survivors who courageously came forward to share their experiences of sexual abuse and harassment,” said Amanda Grady Sexton, director of public affairs of the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. “Sexual harassment is not a ‘misunderstanding’ – it’s a serious crime that has short and long term effects on survivors and their loved ones. We hope that there is true accountability moving forward and justice for the survivors whose lives were forever changed by Governor Cuomo.” InDepth News July 29, 2021 Amanda Grady Sexton, director of public affairs for the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence, said the state recently change the statute of limitations for abuse victims.
“The New Hampshire legislature recently fully eliminated the civil statute of limitations in sexual assault cases, recognizing that survivors of sexual assault should not be bound by arbitrary timelines in their pursuit of healing and justice,” Grady Sexton said. “Statutes of limitations in these cases only benefit perpetrators, and the right to justice should never have an expiration date. We commend this courageous survivor for speaking her truth and sharing her story.” Berlin Daily Sun July 26, 2021 “I have been proud to champion this legislation that averts a truly disastrous situation by providing critical reinforcement to the Crime Victims Fund and VOCA programs,” said Rep. Kuster. “As founder and co-chair of the Bipartisan Task Force to End Sexual Violence, I have talked with countless survivors about how critical it is to have support as you heal and rebuild your life after experiencing trauma. Our victim service providers in the Granite State, including the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence and the Granite State Children’s Alliance, do incredible work with the VOCA dollars they receive, and the impending shortfall in VOCA resources would have had a devastating impact on them and the survivors they assist. I applaud my colleagues in Congress for advancing this common-sense fix in a bipartisan way, and appreciate President Biden quickly signing the bill as it reached his desk.”
|
Archives
December 2021
Categories |
RSS Feed
Our Supporting Partners
The 12 member programs of the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence provide services regardless of gender,age, health status (including HIV-positive), physical, mental or emotional ability, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, socio-economic status, race, national origin, immigration status or religious or political affiliation.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Funding for this website was provided by The Corporate Fund.
New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence
PO Box 353, Concord, NH 03302-0353
(603) 224-8893
New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence
PO Box 353, Concord, NH 03302-0353
(603) 224-8893
NH web design by Harbour Light Strategic Marketing