STATEMENT By Alliance Against Family Violence (AAFV) Board of Directors In Partnership with KCSDV Leadership

Kansas Coalition Against Sexual & Domestic Violence Alliance Against Family Violence


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 9, 2018

The new Board of Directors (Board) of Alliance Against Family Violence (AAFV) has met and unanimously agreed that the critical, life-saving services provided by AAFV are needed in Leavenworth County communities. The Board is formulating a cash flow and fundraising plan with the goal of re-opening the domestic violence and sexual assault services to the community in the near future.

Alliance Against Family Violence (AAFV), founded in 1984, temporarily closed its doors on November 10, 2017. This was done due to lack of cash needed to carry expenses while waiting for grant reimbursements. The statewide organization Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence (KCSDV) in Topeka has been working with AAFV’s former Board of Directors (Board), community members, public officials, and funders to get AAFV re-opened, so services can continue being provided for communities in Leavenworth County. As part of KCSDV’s efforts, AAFV’s new Board was formed and began meeting in April 2018.

“KCSDV wants to thank all of the former staff and Board members for their dedication to victims’ services. Being without critical services is not what any of them would have chosen for families in Leavenworth County communities,” said Joyce Grover, executive director of KCSDV.

We recognize that public officials and community members alike have commented on the dire consequences that may result from a lack of safe shelter and services for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in the Leavenworth County area. In 2017, over 1,100 people called AAFV’s hotline, receiving a variety of safety, crisis, and informational services. Additionally, 143 people received confidential shelter services and another 853 people received non-residential services such as court advocacy, assistance with protection orders, on-site advocacy response during law enforcement calls, and more. Without these AAFV services available, victims have had to seek help outside the community.

As domestic violence incidents are increasing, we do not have victim advocates and services available to help like we used to. This is a situation that all agree is unworkable and unsafe for many victims and their families.

AAFV’s critical services need to reopen. Our communities and families need AAFV and the nonprofit organization’s victim services.

AAFV’s Board has set an initial fundraising goal of $150,000 that must be raised before services can reopen with a smaller staff. Fundraising will need to be on-going to assure sufficient cash flow for the organization. AAFV’s Board will provide the community with periodic updates on how the fundraising efforts are going. Many community members have already donated and the Board hopes others will too.

At its meeting on May 8, 2018, Leavenworth County’s Board of County Commissioners agreed to match the first $55,000 raised by AAFV. We are grateful for this level of support from our public officials who also recognize the important role these services have in our communities. The AAFV Board has made a similar request to the City of Leavenworth, which will be considered soon.

Donations can be made by mailing a check to AAFV’s P.O. Box address in Leavenworth and made securely online through AAFV’s website and PayPal at www.aafv1984.com/donate.

AAFV’s mailing address:
AAFV
P.O. Box 465
Leavenworth, Kansas 66048

Donations are tax deductible, and all will go toward efforts to reopen services.

Thank you to all for your help!

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The Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence (KCSDV) is Kansas’ leading statewide voice for victims and survivors of sexual and domestic violence. KCSDV works with 27 coalition members and with partners across the state of Kansas to prevent and eliminate sexual and domestic violence, dating violence and stalking. Find more information on KCSDV’s website at https://www.kcsdv.org. Contact KCSDV by message at https://www.kcsdv.org/contact and by phone at 785-232-9784.
The 24-hour Kansas Crisis Hotline is 888-END-ABUSE (888-363-2287).


PDF of this statement

KANSAS CRISIS HOTLINE: 888-END-ABUSE | 888-363-2287

Last Updated on Jul 30, 2020