Community Partners

The UD Center for the Study and Prevention of Gender-Based Violence sustains public engagement and collaboration with regional and national practitioners through partnerships with local and national gender-based violence organizations. Learn more about the Center's community partners below.

CHILD, Inc.: Domestic Violence Advocacy Program

The Domestic Violence Advocacy Program (DVAP) a service of CHILD, Inc., provides support to victims of domestic violence. CHILD, Inc. is a non-profit organization based in New Castle County that works on behalf of abused, neglected and dependent children, as well as victims of domestic violence — most of whom are petitioning for Protection from Abuse (PFA) orders in Family Court. For both victims and perpetrators, CHILD, Inc. offers resources including support groups and counseling in a non-judgemental manner.

CHILD, Inc. DV Shelter

CHILD, Inc. operates two domestic violence shelters for battered women and their children, one in Southern New Castle County (Sarah’s House) and the second in Northern New Castle County (Martha’s Carriage House). The mission of CHILD, Inc.’s sheltering program is to reduce domestic violence by providing safety, support and advocacy to victims.

Victim Witness Assistance Program (Delaware Department of Criminal Justice - State of Delaware)

The Victim Witness Assistance Program is part of the Criminal Division of the Delaware Department of Justice which provides for fair and just treatment of crime victims, immediate emergency treatment and referrals to appropriate child/adult service agencies. Victim service staff, whether specialists or social workers, work on the team with prosecutors, paralegals and investigators to prosecute criminal charges in Superior Court, the Court of Common Pleas and Family Court. The victim services staff help meet this mission by providing services to victims and witnesses of crime so that they can fully participate in the criminal case.

Delaware Department of Correction, New Castle Probation and Parole and Domestic Violence Unit (State of Delaware)

The Delaware Department of Correction's mission is to protect the public by supervising adult offenders through safe and humane services, programs and facilities. They continue to focus on offender health care, population management and safe and secure operations while also working on re-entry programs to help reduce recidivism. The Department of Correction keeps Delawareans safe and delivers necessary services to the offender population.

The Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence 

The Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence is a statewide, nonprofit organization and coalition of organizations, groups and individuals that strive to promote conditions that prevent and eliminate domestic violence by educating its members and community partners; providing informational resources to the community; and advocating as a strong, unified voice for victims/survivors of domestic violence, children who are affected, domestic violence programs and victim service providers.

​People’s Place

People’s Place has grown into the largest multi-service 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is dedicated to helping people find their path to growth and independence. The organization accomplishes this goal through variety of programs and services for families, adults and children of lower Delaware that are focused on counseling, education, prevention, intervention, supportive services and advocacy. Today, People’s Place, through a collaborative effort, serves more than 9,000 residents per year in Kent, Sussex and lower New Castle Counties.

People’s Place: SAFE

The People's Place SAFE (Shelter, Advocacy, Freedom and Empowerment) Program provides a safe environment, shelter and support for women and children in domestic violence situations in Kent and Sussex Counties. In addition to providing shelter, family therapy, case management and transition services are provided to help families establish a new, safe home environment on their own with improved skills and resources.

People's Place: Community Liasions - Community Advocacy

Community liasons through People’s Place provide advocacy and support services to survivors of domestic violence. They are involved with child protective services and work directly with a domestic violence (DV) advocate co-located in the Delaware Division of Family Services (Dover or Georgetown offices). Advocates work to engage survivors in services, complete danger assessments, and provide safety planning, court accompaniment and systems advocacy, as well as referrals to community services. The level of service provided is driven by the survivor’s goals and requests. Community advocates interact with the larger DV shelter program, with DFS and with other community agencies.

The Victim Services Unit - Newark Police Department

The Newark Police Department's Victim Services Unit helps those affected by crime. Information and services offered include trauma-informed intervention for victims and witnesses, short-term crisis intervention, criminal justice system information and case status updates, information about Protection From Abuse orders, court accompaniment, follow-up contacts, calls, and letters and referrals to other agencies and support groups.