Law enforcement and other first responders can use the lethality assessment questions to help identify when an individual is in extreme risk or danger. Once an individual is identified as being in a highly lethal relationship, they are given additional information and directly offered services. Successful community implementation of a lethality assessment protocol includes creating a plan for all those involved in assisting survivors to ensure each survivor is given the access to services, especially those experiencing potentially lethal violence.

Most of Kansas’ 105 counties are frontier or rural. In remote rural areas, victims and survivors of sexual and domestic violence can have significant barriers to getting support and accessing help. To counter these barriers, KCSDV’s Rural Project addresses the need for both a coordinated community response to sexual and domestic violence and for specific outreach to sexual and domestic violence victims and survivors within those communities who may be experiencing social and geographic isolation.

There are 25 KCSDV coalition member programs, which are direct sexual and domestic violence victim services providers, located in cities and communities across the state. Four of the programs happen to have new directors who were hired during the pandemic. Welcome to all of them.

Here are the bills on which we worked and three that, with our partners, we will address again next year.

KCSDV continues to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic, making changes and adjustments as needed. KCSDV has developed resources, hosted training, and provided technical assistance to meet the ongoing needs for victim services during the pandemic. KCSDV remains open and ready to help you with your needs. You can reach us through our main phone line at 785-232-9784 and via message through our website. Normal office hours continue to be Monday through Friday at 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.