prevention and coordinated community response

For more than a decade, the Domestic Violence Community Council (DVCC) has been successful in creating stronger relationships between community agencies, law enforcement, health care providers, judicial and legal representatives, faith community leaders, educators and other community stake holders dealing with domestic violence issues. The DVCC meets bi-monthly to provide an opportunity for its members to come together and evaluate how specific systems are addressing the issue of domestic violence through prevention, intervention and appropriate response.

Are you interested in becoming a member of the Domestic Violence Community Council? Please contact Family Services at (336) 722-8173.

Domestic Violence Community Council (DVCC)
In 1999, Family Services, Inc. formed the Domestic Violence Community Council (DVCC) to coordinate the efforts of public, private and non-profit organizations providing services to domestic violence victims and offenders.

Our mission is to strengthen the collaboration between community systems in an effort to improve the lives of those affected by domestic violence.

The Domestic Violence Community Council seeks:
	To improve the internal and external coordination of services to victims of domestic violence
	To promote effective prevention, identification, intervention and treatment of domestic violence throughout Forsyth County
	To assist in developing appropriate training opportunities for professionals who work with domestic violence victims and offenders
	To partner with other community coalitions that address issues of violence

Are you interested in becoming a member of the Domestic Violence Community Council? Please contact Family Services at (336) 722-8173.

Sexual Assault Response Team (SART)
The Sexual Assault Response Team of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County is a community collaborative with representation including representatives from law enforcement, criminal justice, medical, educational, and other community systems which respond to survivors of sexual assault and develop effective avenues of prevention.

Goals of SART are as follows:
	Provide SART team members with on-going training that is compassionate, current, factual and based on client needs.
	Anticipate trends within the community relevant to sexual assault and prepare SART team members for those needs.
	Ensure that victims of sexual assault receive appropriate medical treatment that reflects dignity and sensitivity.
	Provide bias-free services that are culturally sensitive to victims of this type of trauma throughout each stage of the process.
	Promote successful prosecution of sexual assault offenders.
	Connect clients to crisis intervention professionals that are trained to assist with recovery and healing.
	Strengthen the ability of law enforcement and criminal justice systems to successfully prosecute offenders of these types of crimes.
	Assist institutions of higher learning with resources for effective prevention, intervention and response.

SART members meet every other month at Family Services. Please contact us at (336) 722-78173 for details on how to become involved.