Public Policy
The California Partnership to End Domestic Violence has been instrumental in the enactment, passage, implementation and enforcement of strong, comprehensive legislation and policies that increase safety for victims of domestic violence and their children. Our policy efforts strive to hold batterers accountable and create sustainable funding sources for domestic violence programs and services. As part of our overall mission, The Partnership takes part in a number of policy and systems change activities:
- Provide statewide leadership on public policy issues by promoting legislation and systems/procedural change in order to improve institutional response to domestic violence
- Work with the court system to improve both civil and criminal court responses to domestic violence
- Collaborate with multiple stakeholder systems and organizations in policy and protocol development
- Strategize for the prevention and elimination of domestic violence at the local, state and national levels
The Partnership's Public Policy Process
Public Policy and Research Committees (PPRC’s)
The Partnership monitors the development and implementation of state and federal laws that effect victims of domestic violence, non-profits, and domestic violence programs. We work closely with domestic violence advocates through our Public Policy and Research Committees (PPRC’s) to ensure that our public policy work meets the needs of survivors and programs across California. We also collaborate with legislators, state officials and others.
The Partnership staff and membership attend public hearings, provide comments on proposed legislation, assist state agencies in policy development, serve on grant review committees, partner with state agencies on grants, assist in statewide training and resource development and provide expertise on issues in domestic violence. We provide public policy information to domestic violence victim advocates and allies in the movement. Lastly, The Partnership also holds annual Legislative workshops and a Legislative Action Day in order to inform members and elected representatives about legislation related to domestic violence.
Our PPRC members actively participate and engage in the development of The Partnership’s legislative priorities. The adoption of legislative priorities is the culmination of a process involving The Partnership members statewide.
Annual Member survey: Individual members complete the survey disseminated by The Partnership.
Ongoing feedback mechanisms: Leaders and staff receive feedback on legislative issues through state reports, committee calls with state leaders, member response and reports from regional representatives and public policy committee members.
Each year, The Partnership staff and members engage in a variety of public policy activities. These activities are identified by PPRC members, members at large and key stakeholders, with input and advice from staff. Criteria used for developing the public priority activities include viability, critical need, strong member support and potential for distinctive The Partnership contribution. While some of these activities culminate in legislation, some become established as sub-committee areas that are subsets of and run by PPRC members. Our current sub-committees are Domestic Violence Funding, Immigration and Domestic Violence, Teen Dating Violence (TDV), Criminal Justice and Domestic Violence.
Sub-Committees
Domestic Violence Funding
The Domestic Violence Funding Initiative (DVFI) Sub-Committee of the PPRC works to develop and support funding proposal(s) that will sustain and enhance public and private funding and resources for domestic violence prevention and response.
Who are we?
A subset of PPRC that is made up of PPRC members throughout the state.
What do we do?
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Develop The Partnership-sponsored funding initiatives and proposals to support The Partnership members and the DV community as a whole.
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When needed, evaluate and make recommendations to PPRC members on externally-sponsored funding legislation and proposals.
Criminal and Civil Justice
(formerly Domestic Violence Contempt Implementation Initiative)
Who are we?
Made up of statewide PPRC members. A sub-set of PPRC
What do we do?
- Our primary role is to be the advisory committee to create and implement SB1356 DV Contempt Law training curriculum.
- The Sub-Committee is also responsible for researching and providing recommendations to the statewide PPRC for DV contempt emerging topics in policy and systems change
- Develop and implement statewide DV contempt trainings
- Create and disseminate educational tools for the field
- Increase collaboration between advocates and prosecutors
- Expand The Partnership's work with law enforcement
Teen Dating Violence
The California Partnership to End Domestic Violence’s (the Partnership’s) Public Policy and Research Committee (PPRC) Teen Dating Violence (TDV) sub-committee advocates for public policies and institutional practices to promote healthy relationships and prevent TDV. The TDV sub-committee’s work advances one of the six goals of the Partnership’s Prevention Plan 2009-2013: Advocate for public policies and institutional practices to prevent DV. TDV prevention is the focus for the Prevention Plan, not only to respond to and prevent this form of intimate partner violence among youth, but also as a priority strategy for preventing future adult domestic violence in California. More information...
Who Are We?
Made up of statewide PPRC members.
What Do We Do?
- Strengthens local and state capacity to advocate for TDV prevention policies and practices;
- Conducts public policy research and analysis;
- Develops legislative proposals;
- Works with the Partnership’s policy team and regional PPRCs to implement advocacy activities for sponsored TDV legislation;
- Evaluates and makes recommendations to the policy team and regional PPRCs on TDV and related legislation;
- Works with the Partnership’s public affairs team to conduct education and media outreach during Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month (TDVAPM) and throughout the year to elevate legislators’ and other stakeholders’ understanding of TDV and the need for comprehensive prevention efforts;
- Builds partnerships among stakeholders, including education, parent, youth, public safety and other organizations, to strengthen and expand support for TDV prevention; and,
- Advocates for and provides technical assistance to support implementation of effective TDV prevention policies and practices.
Immigration & Domestic Violence
Who are we?
Made up of statewide PPRC members, and are a sub-set of the PPRC
What do we do?
- Facilitate membership discussions and research regarding immigration and domestic violence statewide needs
- Act as advisory group to develop statewide and regional DV immigration trainings, educational tools, resources and networks
- Makes recommendations to PPRC & staff on the intersection of DV and immigration policy and systems change work
- Develop and implement trainings
- Create and disseminate resources
- Increase collaborations and facilitate discussions with key networks
- Expand the state’s policy & systems change work as it intersects within different structures and sub-committees (contempt, cps, custody, etc.)
- Support The Partnership’s Regions with systems change, and coordinate regional networks
Systems Change
The Partnership is committed to promote systems advocacy and enhanced service delivery that prioritizes the safety, needs and autonomy of individuals who have experienced domestic violence. The focus of systems change is to increase and improve access to services, community and systems response for all communities including un-served and underserved populations as well as children.
The Partnership engages in these and other systems change activities:
- Strategic grassroots advocacy mobilization
- Technical assistance on policy and systems change
- Membership support in systems change advocacy
- Coordination of PPRC sub-committees
- Coordination of trainings in collaboration with our Technical Assistance & Training Department
- Development and implementation of curriculums in support of legislation & other systems change tasks
- Networking/Building Partnerships and Resources
- Regional systems change requests; facilitation of local MOU process for DV Legal Assistance; building legal resources, maintaining referral directory and materials
- Participating in Working Groups/Meetings, including:
- Native American & AOC statewide meeting
- National funding calls
- National Forums on Immigration, provide leadership training to future advocates (youth)
- Membership Systems Change Requests
- Coordinating field response to emerging issues
- Connecting members on specific topic (Marriage License Fees, RFP’s, referrals, etc.)
- Collecting and organizing field data (i.e. budget impact, resources
- Responding to membership regional requests for resources/referrals
- Local mediation/support – Local Government, MLF’s, U Visas, Language Access, etc.
