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Domestic Violence Coordinating Council prepares Family Justice Center rollout, stresses statewide high‑risk review and training needs
Summary
The Domestic Violence Coordinating Council (DVCC) briefed the Joint Finance Committee on implementation steps following passage of Family Justice Center legislation, the ongoing VOCA‑funded high‑risk team, updated lethality assessment protocols and a statewide training agenda. Council members said the Family Justice Center Council is hiring an e
The Domestic Violence Coordinating Council (DVCC) reported to the Joint Finance Committee on preparations for implementing the Family Justice Center statute, ongoing work by the high‑risk review team and a slate of statewide training and certification activities.
Background and Family Justice Center Council: DVCC members thanked legislators for passage of Family Justice Center legislation (House Bill 340 referenced during the meeting) and said the newly created Family Justice Center Council has begun recruiting an executive director. The Family Justice Center model is designed to coordinate co‑located civil, criminal, social and advocacy services for survivors; DVCC members said the state‑level council will provide standards and planning support to local centers.
High‑Risk Team and VOCA funding: The council emphasized the statewide high‑risk team that reviews domestic‑violence lethality assessment referrals, supplements local screening and helps coordinate protective services for cases identified as high‑lethality. That team currently operates with VOCA (Victims of Crime Act) grant support; DVCC staff said VOCA funding has enabled the team and warned that continued operations require sustainable funding once grant cycles end.
Training, certification and multipart coordination: DVCC staff described a range of educational initiatives — including trainings for law enforcement on Delaware’s strangulation protocol, a statewide lethality assessment update to the LAP v.2 model, and a spring symposium for multidisciplinary practitioners. DVCC said it has modernized its treatment‑provider recertification process and shifted applications to an on‑line workflow to reduce administrative burden.
Why this matters: The Family Justice Center model and high‑risk reviews aim to centralize and speed services to survivors of domestic violence and reduce fatality risk. DVCC asked the committee to recognize that various housing, shelter and hotline providers remain critical infrastructure and that family justice centers require strong local services to be effective.
Follow‑ups and next steps: DVCC said it is identifying long‑term funding options for the high‑risk team, completing a national technical assistance engagement on fatal incident review practices, and finishing a 2025 fatality review report that will include definitions and recommendations for improved data clarity.
Ending: The council closed by noting conference and training dates and invited committee members to register for the April symposium; DVCC staff said they will continue to brief the committee as Family Justice Center planning and VOCA allocations evolve.
