Our Vision
The Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault promotes and sustains a collective movement to end violence and oppression through social change.
Our Mission Statement
To be a collective voice for victims and survivors and to support those agencies and communities working to prevent and eliminate domestic and sexual violence.
The specific and primary purposes are:
- To provide training, technical assistance, legislative and legal advocacy, pro bono attorney connections and resource materials to victim services agencies and other stakeholders;
- To provide coordination, planning, training, and technical assistance to those who are working to create and implement domestic violence and sexual assault prevention strategies and activities;
- To provide communication and linkage among programs and organizations whose primary focus is the prevention and intervention of domestic and sexual assault;
- To expose the roots of domestic violence and sexual assault in the institutionalized discrimination against women, children and those who are viewed as having less power;
- To assure that voices, experiences and expressed views of survivors of sexual and physical violence are a guiding force and
- To identify, challenge and change issues of gender, race and related oppressions that contribute to violence.
Our Beliefs
We believe…
… interpersonal violence is the use of force or threat to achieve and maintain control over others.
… societal oppression is the abuse of power, which systematically creates conditions that condone violent acts.
… that every human being has the right to be safe and free from violence.
… that the elimination of interpersonal and societal violence is most effectively advanced through networking and coalition building at the local, state, and national levels.
… societal change is achieved through community involvement and prevention efforts.
… that community engagement is intrinsic to the creation of a safe and just society.
… in individual self-determination, empowerment through support and education, and the right of all persons to live without fear of interpersonal violence regardless of race, gender, national origin, age, level of ability, religion or sexual orientation.
Our History
ANDVSA was incorporated in 1980. At that time, there were five programs in the state providing services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. However, the programs were not coordinated, the issues were not significantly recognized, there was little funding available, and legislation to address the problem was negligible.
Currently, there are eighteen programs who are ANDVSA members and four affiliate members, a state agency committed to the elimination of violence , funding continues to be appropriated, and the issues of domestic violence and sexual assault are recognized as serious statewide concerns requiring the sustained action.
OUR MEMBER PROGRAMS
The Network has 19 member programs and 4 affiliate programs that provide: