​Washington, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02), a senior member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, helped advance her legislative amendment to ensure the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children can continue their critical joint work with law enforcement to recover missing children and combating online child exploitation as part of H.R. 8152, the American Data Privacy and Protection Act. This bill passed the Energy and Commerce Committee and now heads to the House Floor for passage.
 
“The growing presence of predators targeting and exploiting children online is alarming,” said Amanda Grady Sexton, Director of Public Affairs at the NH Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. “We must do everything in our power to stop child exploitation and equip our law enforcement officers and child protection organizations with the tools and resources they need to hold perpetrators accountable and keep our kids safe. The amendment offered by Rep. Annie Kuster today will help achieve that goal right here in New Hampshire.”

(Washington,DC) – (U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)) visited the Coos County Family Health Services’ (CCFHS) Response to Domestic and Sexual Violence Crisis Center in Berlin to discuss efforts to boost services and programs for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. She and local advocates discussed the importance of the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act and how the pandemic has heightened demand for the crisis center’s services.

“The reauthorization of VAWA earlier this year was a necessary step towards ensuring that the law and state-wide interventions reflect the current and most pressing needs of survivors of domestic and sexual violence. We are all aware of the challenges that emerged over the last two years, resulting in an incredible need for New Hampshire’s crisis centers to pivot their outreach and resources in order to continue providing essential services to survivors. This critical need is still present today and although the core role of an advocate has not changed, the scope of their work has expanded immensely as they seek to meet the increasingly complex needs of survivors. The effort to modernize VAWA every 5 years allows our communities to effectively respond to the changing needs of survivors in the Granite State, and we are so grateful to Senator Shaheen for her leadership on VAWA and her unwavering commitment to survivors of domestic and sexual violence,” said Amanda Grady Sexton, Director of Public Affairs, NH Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence.

(Manchester, NH) –Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Representatives Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Chris Pappas (NH-01) announced that New Hampshire has received $4,698,138 to bolster AmeriCorps programs throughout the state. The funding is provided by both AmeriCorps’ annual funding and the American Rescue Plan. Specifically, this funding will support programs managed by City Year, Inc., For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST), Goodwill Industries of Northern New England, the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence and the Student Conservation Association. 

May 5, 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: 
Amanda Grady Sexton (603) 548-9377, amanda@nhcadsv.org

Today, the New Hampshire Senate voted 14-10 down party lines to approve a settlement process that is not comprehensive, and, in effect, disregards egregious abuse suffered by numerous sexual assault victims at the YDC/Sununu Center and its cover up over decades.
 
“To be clear: the bill that passed today is not victim-centered and does not seek to make victims whole. HB1677 fails hundreds of children who were abused by employees of the State of New Hampshire. The bill excludes many victims of sexual abuse and torture from even participating in the YDC/Sununu Center settlement process, and limits other victims from accessing the justice they deserve,” said Lyn Schollett, Executive Director of the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence.
 
We encourage anyone who has been sexually or physically abused, no matter when the abuse occurred to seek confidential and compassionate support or information through one of the 12 member programs of the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. Caring advocates are available 24/7 through the Statewide Domestic and Sexual Violence Helpline at 1-866-644-3574.
 
About the Coalition:
NHCADSV is a statewide network of 12 independent member programs committed to ending sexual violence, domestic violence, and stalking, through direct services to victims, community education, and public policy advocacy. The NHCADSV and its 12 member programs do not discriminate based on 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. For more information visit www.nhcadsv.org.

May 4, 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: 
Amanda Grady Sexton (603) 548-9377, amanda@nhcadsv.org
 
​Yesterday, members of the Senate Finance Committee voted to exclude numerous sexual assault victims from participating in a state settlement fund for individuals who were abused by employees of New Hampshire’s Youth Detention Center. The Coalition supports the creation of a truly victim-centered state settlement fund as an alternative to the civil court process and strongly urges the Senate to amend HB1677 on the Senate floor this Thursday, May 5. As written, the Coalition opposes HB1677, and we cannot recommend that victims use this process unless the bill is amended.
 
“The State of New Hampshire miserably failed to protect vulnerable children in its care at YDC and the Sununu Center. Children in New Hampshire’s youth detention centers suffered heartbreaking and unthinkable abuse for decades. The government employees who committed these terrible acts took advantage of the youth in their care, leveraging their position of authority to cover up the extent of their abuse,” said Amanda Grady Sexton, Director of Public Affairs for the Coalition.
 
“The state has an opportunity to set a powerful precedent through this settlement fund. Although there is no way to adequately compensate a victim for the life-long impacts of the sexual abuse and violence they endured while in the care of the state, the state can demonstrate what it means to hold institutions accountable and show unwavering support for child victims. The bill in its current form fails to do that,” Grady Sexton said.
 
Under the current version of HB1677, some groups of victims who experienced egregious acts of sexual violence are purposely prohibited from participating in the settlement process, including children who were forced to view pornographic materials, children who were subjected to acts of indecent exposure, and children who were filmed while being sexually abused. It is critical that the definition of abuse be expanded so that any child who was sexually abused at YDC is eligible to participate in this settlement process.
 
We also join Child USA in urging the legislature to revisit the caps on sexual abuse claims to ensure that the state is adequately compensating victims for the abuse they endured. Caps in a settlement process only benefit the state in these cases, and the caps for abuse claims in this bill shortchange victims. Under the current bill, those who suffered egregious abuse will be forced to choose between a low settlement offer or going to court. 
 
The Coalition would like to express its gratitude to Senator Lou D’Allesandro and Senator Cindy Rosenwald who advocated strongly in support of amending this legislation. 
 
We encourage anyone who has been sexually or physically abused, no matter when the abuse occurred, to come forward to seek confidential and compassionate support or information through one of the 12 member programs of the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. Caring advocates are available 24/7 through the Statewide Domestic and Sexual Violence Helpline at 1-866-644-3574.
 
NHCADSV is a statewide network of 12 independent member programs committed to ending sexual violence, domestic violence, and stalking, through direct services to victims, community education, and public policy advocacy. The NHCADSV and its 12 member programs do not discriminate based on 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. For more information visit www.nhcadsv.org. 

March 8, 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Amanda Grady Sexton (603) 548-9377, amanda@nhcadsv.org
​
The N.H. Supreme Court Domestic Violence Task Force was convened in December after a woman was shot outside her workplace by an ex-boyfriend, a month after a New Hampshire judge denied her request for a final protective order. The multidisciplinary group was charged with conducting a “systemic review of domestic violence in the New Hampshire court system,” according to an order establishing the Task Force. The Task Force’s report was released today after the group convened several meetings throughout January, including a public hearing. 
 
The charge of this Task Force was to improve outcomes for domestic violence victims seeking relief from the court system and we believe the following recommendations will help accomplish that:  

• The Judicial Performance Committee should review the current judicial performance review process and determine how best to obtain more meaningful data. 
• A stakeholder group of domestic violence experts should review existing New Hampshire statutes including amending RSA 490:32, relative to the Judicial Performance Evaluation system.  
• The Judicial Branch’s Diversity and Inclusion Steering Committee should take efforts to explore and address implicit gender bias and bias against survivors in domestic violence cases and include it in their strategic plan. 
• The Judicial Branch should get more funding for training judges and court staff at all court levels on domestic violence issues and trauma-informed practices and ensure that regular training opportunities are made available. 

 
Lyn Schollett, Executive Director of the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, said, “In light of a tragic case where a domestic violence victim was shot a month after she courageously sought a final protective order, the court pulled together this multidisciplinary Task Force to review ways to improve the system. We were grateful for the opportunity to work with stakeholders to create a roadmap in this report for improved accountability and transparency in domestic violence cases, and we will continue to work to ensure these recommendations are implemented. It’s imperative that there are measures to identify when the court system exhibits biases against women and victims of crime and a process for responding to those cases, with the end goal of improving outcomes for survivors who interact with the system.” 
 
About the Coalition:
NHCADSV is a statewide network of 12 independent member programs committed to ending sexual violence, domestic violence, and stalking, through direct services to victims, community education, and public policy advocacy. The NHCADSV and its 12 member programs do not discriminate based on 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. For more information visit www.nhcadsv.org.
​

Concord, N.H. -- Today, Rep. Annie Kuster (NH-02) met virtually with members of the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence (NHCADSV). During the meeting, the group discussed NHCADSV’s ongoing work for the Granite State and the reauthorization of the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA), the primary federal funding stream dedicated to the support of emergency shelters and assistance for victims of domestic violence and their children. Last year, Kuster helped advance the FVPSA reauthorization in the House of Representatives. In 2021, NHCADSV served more than 13,000 individuals seeking support for domestic and sexual violence in New Hampshire. 

“We are incredibly grateful to Congresswoman Kuster and her colleagues in the House for their work to reauthorize FVPSA this past October,” said Pamela Keilig, Public Policy Specialist at New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. “FVPSA serves as an essential funding stream to ensure survivors have access to life-saving resources, and it helps ensure New Hampshire’s advocates can continue to meet the growing need for victims’ services in cases that are increasingly complex and require long-term interventions. Advocates across the state have worked tirelessly to support those most impacted by domestic violence, and FVPSA reauthorization is an integral step in ensuring survivors’ future success.” 

November 17, 2021 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Amanda Grady Sexton (603) 548-9377, amanda@nhcadsv.org

“The victim clearly showed in her petition that she was in immediate danger, and we are devastated to learn a final restraining order was denied in this case. Sadly, 43 percent of final protective orders are denied in New Hampshire, and in some cases where the victim has suffered serious injuries and there is an ongoing criminal investigation,” said Amanda Grady Sexton, Director of Public Affairs for NHCADSV.

She continued, “We call on the courts to launch a comprehensive review of all recent restraining orders to ensure that judges are following all laws and protocols when making these life-altering decisions, and to seek advanced training on domestic violence for all judges presiding over these cases.”

If you or a loved one have experienced domestic violence or sexual assault, you are not alone, and there is help. Advocates are available to provide support, information and create a plan for safety. Services are free and confidential.

NH’s 24-hour Domestic and Sexual Violence Helpline: 1-866-644-3574
​
About the Coalition:
NHCADSV is a statewide network of 12 independent member programs committed to ending sexual violence, domestic violence, and stalking, through direct services to victims, community education, and public policy advocacy. The NHCADSV and its 12 member programs do not discriminate based on 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. For more information visit www.nhcadsv.org.