Family Violence Project (FVP) focuses on creating a safer, healthier, and more collaborative community that benefits everyone. As part of that work, FVP remains dedicated to the vision statements and their individualized Impact2032 Plan. The organization has made significant progress towards that plan in the past year and will continue to implement strategies to further the progress of these visions.
FVP’s Prevention Education Program specifically supports the vision for education by offering youth- and community-based programming, training, and resources in Kennebec County. The program strives to both raise awareness and improve the community response to victims of domestic abuse by offering school-based educational programming, consultation and training for adults who teach, administer, or support within the educational systems, and outreach to child/youth serving organizations, including consultation, training, and participation in task force groups. Educators work within the local school systems, early childhood learning groups, and community organizations/businesses.
Youth-based programming works to promote healthy relationships, provide opportunities to report child abuse, and inform youth of the availability of services for them and their family. Community-based programing works to build knowledge and best practices when working with folks who are impacted by domestic abuse. This can be policy review, training, and general support to staff.
The Prevention Education Program is needed to inform and support children, youth, and those who work with them about abuse in relationships, consequences, and resources for safety and support. The program is a strong preventative measure helping to educate concepts of respect, mutuality, fairness, and trust as characteristics of strong relationships to reduce the likelihood that youth will become abusive or experience victimization. The educators work toward strengthening the coordinated community response to domestic abuse by identifying strategic opportunities for institutional change, which centers survivor safety and autonomy as well as provides access to supports.
FVP is the only organization doing this preventative work in the community. Without the agency’s work, these underserved populations would lack further preventative and community services.
FVP also focuses on supporting literacy in the community through a variety of strategies, including donating books that focus on healthy relationships and survivor stories to almost all libraries in Kennebec and Somerset County, partnering with local librarians to help in effectively comprehending and processing literature, and working with Literacy Volunteers and Capital Area New Mainers to ensure that our written materials are suitable and accessible to all community members, regardless of their language and/or literacy level.
FVP recognizes internal needs to create more equitable access to its services. The first round of survivor focus groups has been instrumental in working towards achieving this goal. The organization aims to continue this work and reach out to all underserved members of the community moving forward. With the help of Impact2032, the agency hopes to empower everyone to lead healthy, safe, and just lives.