Domestic violence (DV) advocates, survivors, allies, and community members from across the state are joining together on Tuesday, May 14th for the New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence’s (NYSCADV’s) 2024 Day of Action. We are sending a resounding message to state lawmakers: Thousands of New Yorkers experience domestic violence every day. They require access to resources and services that can help them enhance their own safety, and the safety of their families, and rebuild their lives. By investing in critical, life-sustaining services, legislators can ensure survivors have the support they need to heal and move forward.

Unfortunately, New York State continues to have the highest demand for domestic violence services in the country. According to the National Network to End Domestic Violence’s national Domestic Violence Counts survey, on one day in New York in 2023, 9,411 adult and child victims of DV received services – a 62% increase in demand since before the pandemic. More troubling, on that same day, more than 1,000 victims did not receive the help they requested due to a lack of resources and staff.

Reach out to your legislator on Tuesday, May 14th and support NYSCADV’s 2024 Day of Action. We’re counting on YOU – survivors, advocates, coalition and community partners, legislators, and community members – to raise your voices!

Legislative Priorities

DV advocates are supporting the following legislation to enhance the ability of survivors to access assistance and enhance their safety, and to support DV advocates in their work:

1.     A.8437A Hevesi/S.7793A Persaud: Would add residential and non-residential DV programs, OVS-licensed crime victim service programs and DOH-licensed rape crisis programs, among others, to designated human services programs eligible for cost-of-living adjustments;

2.     A.3346C Hevesi/S.3170C Skoufis: Called Kyra’s Law, would require courts to conduct a prompt evidentiary hearing to review any findings or allegations of DV, child abuse, and child neglect before issuing orders of custody or visitation;

3.     A.2583 Hevesi/S.15 Gounardes: Called the Securing Access to Fair and Equal (S.A.F.E.) Shelter Act, would expand shelter capacity for single adult DV victims by requiring the state to provide full reimbursement when a shelter room intended for double occupancy is used to house a single individual;

4.     A.1309B L. Rosenthal/S.2278A Cleare: Would permit DV survivors to dispute coerced debt; and,

5.     A.9616 L. Rosenthal/S.9174 Gounardes: Would require vehicle manufacturers and dealers to terminate an abuser’s access to remote vehicle technology at the request of a DV survivor who shows proof of ownership and an Order of Protection.

Social Media

USE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS TO ADVOCATE FOR DV SURVIVORS

On Tuesday, May 14, 2024, domestic violence advocates, survivors and allies will call on New York State lawmakers to support legislation that will keep children safe, increase economic security for survivors and advocates, and increase access to services. We have developed the following social media content to assist in your advocacy efforts.

TAKE ACTION ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Use the hashtags #StandUpForSurvivors, #SecureFamilies and #SafeChildren in your posts to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social media sites. Be sure to @NYSCADV so we can uplift your posts.

Share social media posts directly from NYSCADV social media accounts and/or create your own from the samples below. 

Call and/or email your legislators to urge them to keep children safe and stand up for survivors and the DV programs that support them. (Click here to view 2024 Legislative Priorities)

Sample Posts 

Facebook/LinkedIn/Instagram

• New York State has the highest demand for domestic violence services in the country.  One day in New York, while more than 9,000 adult and child victims of domestic violence received services, 1,000 survivors did not due to a lack of funding or resources. We have seen a 62% increase in requests for services since before the pandemic. NYS must stand up for survivors of domestic violence.
   
• New York’s judges fail to recognize and appropriately respond to DV and child abuse in child custody and visitation proceedings. This has led to several tragedies. In fact, 35 children have been killed by a parent during custody proceedings in New York since 2016. We must require courts to prioritize the safety of children in these cases. Pass Kyra’s Law, which would require the court to hold a prompt hearing when allegations of DV, child abuse or child neglect are made. If the Legislature fails to act, more children’s lives will be tragically harmed or lost.
   
• DV advocates are essential, frontline workers whose work requires specialized skills and training. It is a 24/7 job, requiring us to meet DV survivors where they are – at the police station, in court or the hospital – to provide critical, life-saving services. DV advocates have never received a cost-of-living adjustment on our New York State contracts. We urge the NYS Legislature to support legislation to include DV advocates in all future COLAs.
   
• DV abusers often use their victims’ financial information to apply for credit cards, obtain loans, or open financial accounts. These actions can destroy a DV survivor’s credit rating, making it difficult for them to create financial independence. Legislation is needed to ensure survivors are not held liable for this coerced debt and creditors should be required to cease collection activities if they find the debt was coerced. We must end coerced debt! Pass A.1309B/S.2278A!
   
• Increase access to shelter for all by passing the S.A.F.E (Securing Access to Fair and Equal) Shelter Act! This bill will increase access for single adults survivors, older survivors, and those in historically excluded communities, including LGBTQIA+ survivors. To ensure equity, the State must reimburse DV shelters for double occupancy when a room configured for two individuals is used to house a single individual. Pass the S.A.F.E Shelter Act!
   
• DV abusers have begun using car navigation systems to track and stalk their victims. We must protect DV survivors from stalking and harassment by remote vehicle technology. DV survivors must have the ability to remove an abuser’s access to remote technology in a car they legally own if they have a valid Order of Protection. Pass A.9616/S.9174!

X/(Twitter)

• New York State has the highest demand for domestic violence services in the country. We have seen a 62% increase in demand for services since before the pandemic. NYS must stand up for survivors of domestic violence.
   
• New York’s judges fail to recognize and appropriately respond to DV and child abuse in child custody and visitation proceedings. 35 children have been killed by a parent during custody proceedings in New York since 2016. We must require courts to prioritize the safety of children! Pass Kyra’s Law!
   
• ATTENTION NYS! We have the greatest demand for DV services, and we need the strongest statewide network of DV services in the country.  Increase access to shelter for all by passing the S.A.F.E (Securing Access to Fair and Equal) Shelter Act!
   
• We must protect DV survivors from stalking and harassment by remote vehicle technology. DV survivors must have the ability to remove an abuser’s access to remote technology in a car they legally own if they have a valid Order of Protection. Pass A.9616/S.9174!
   
• Support the life-saving work of domestic violence service providers. Include DV advocates in any future COLAs.

Call Script

It only takes a couple of minutes to call your legislator and tell them to support the thousands of New Yorkers experiencing domestic violence every day. DV survivors require access to resources and services that can enhance their own safety, and the safety of their families, and rebuild their lives.

To simplify the process for you, we have developed this template script for use when calling legislative offices. We encourage you to tailor the script to highlight information you feel your legislators should be aware of (e.g., impacts to your program, what you are seeing in the field, nuances specific to DV programs and the victim/survivors you work with, etc.).  

Script:

Hello, my name is  [name] and I am a/an [advocate, program director, director, executive director, etc.] at [name of your organization]. 

I am calling to urge [Senator/Assembly Member (name of legislator)] to support legislation that will enhance the safety of domestic violence survivors, increase access to services, and support domestic violence advocates.

We are asking the  [Senator/Assembly Member (name of legislator)] to support bills that will ensure DV advocates receive future COLAs on state contracts, enhance the safety of children during child custody proceedings and permit DV survivors to dispute coerced debt.

Can I email [Senator/Assembly Member (name of legislator)] information about these bills? [Ask for appropriate email.] Thank you!

Follow-Up Materials to Send:

• Legislator Letter
• Legislative Day of Action Priorities
• 5 Memos of Support
• DV Counts Flyer and DV Census Summary

Sample Email

Please take a few minutes on Tuesday, May 14, to email your legislators and ask them to support the thousands of New Yorkers experiencing domestic violence every day. DV survivors require access to resources and services that can enhance their own safety, and the safety of their families, and rebuild their lives.

Below you will find a template email and link to talking points. We encourage you to tailor the sample email to highlight any other information you feel your legislators should be aware of (e.g., impacts to your program, what you are seeing in the field, nuances specific to DV programs and the victim/survivors you work with, etc.). When sending your email, please attach the supporting documents in the Legislator Packet (below).

SAMPLE OUTREACH EMAIL

Subject: NYSCADV’s 2024 Legislative Day of Action

Dear {Assembly member/Senator + last name},

I am writing to you today as a/an {advocate, program director, executive director, etc.} at {your organization}.

Domestic violence (DV) victim advocates, survivors, allies, and community members from across the state are joining together today for the New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence’s (NYSCADV’s) 2024 Day of Action. Our message to state legislators is clear: Thousands of New Yorkers experience domestic violence every day. They require access to resources and services that can help them enhance their own safety, and the safety of their families, and rebuild their lives. By investing in critical, life-sustaining services, legislators can ensure survivors have the support they need to heal and move forward.

Unfortunately, New York State continues to have the highest demand for domestic violence services in the country. According to the National Network to End Domestic Violence’s national Domestic Violence Counts survey, on one day in New York in 2023, 9,411 adult and child victims of DV received services – a 62% increase in demand since before the pandemic. More troubling, on that same day, more than 1,000 victims did not receive the help they requested due to a lack of resources and staff.

DV advocates are supporting the following legislation to enhance the ability of survivors to access assistance and enhance their safety, and to support DV advocates in their work:

1. A.8437A Hevesi/S.7793A Persaud: Would add residential and non-residential DV programs, OVS-licensed crime victim service programs and DOH-licensed rape crisis programs, among others, to designated human services programs eligible for cost-of-living adjustments;
2. A.3346C Hevesi/S.3170C Skoufis: Called Kyra’s Law, would require courts to conduct a prompt evidentiary hearing to review any findings or allegations of DV, child abuse, and child neglect before issuing orders of custody or visitation;
3. A.2583 Hevesi/S.15 Gounardes: Called the Securing Access to Fair and Equal (S.A.F.E.) Shelter Act, would expand shelter capacity for single adult DV victims by requiring the state to provide full reimbursement when a shelter room intended for double occupancy is used to house a single individual;
4. A.1309B L. Rosenthal/S.2278A Cleare: Would permit DV survivors to dispute coerced debt; and,
5. A.9616 L. Rosenthal/S.9174 Gounardes: Would require vehicle manufacturers and dealers to terminate an abuser’s access to remote vehicle technology at the request of a DV survivor who shows proof of ownership and an Order of Protection.

If you would like more information, I can be reached at {phone number}, or you can contact Joan Gerhardt, Director of Public Policy and Advocacy at NYSCADV, at jgerhardt@nyscadv.org.

Sincerely,

{Your name and title}

Additional Materials