GCVF 2019 Conference 2019 Conference Manual Draft | Page 7

GEORGIA COMMISSION ON FAMILY VIOLENCE    The Georgia Commission on Family Violence (GCFV) is a state agency created by the Georgia General Assembly in 1992. The 37 members of the State Commission on Family Violence are outlined in O.C.G.A. § ​ 19-13-32. ​ Our mission is   ​ to provide leadership to end family violence by promoting safety, ensuring accountability and improving justice for generations to come. Our vision is to serve the state of Georgia as a clearinghouse for family violence, ensuring safety is balanced with offender accountability; implementing research-based and data-driven responses, and collaborating with partners to promote safe homes for all Georgians. We value integrity, coordination, leadership, and education.   Public Awareness & Education: G CFV provides training on family violence and related issues statewide to increase Georgia’s capacity to effectively respond to family violence with an emphasis on violence reduction, coordinated community response, and building safer communities. GCFV also hosts public events designed to build awareness of family violence in Georgia. Statewide Annual Conference: ​ GCFV’s Annual Conference provides an opportunity for more than 650 participants to receive up-to-date training by state and national experts on best practices addressing family violence. Family Violence Intervention Programs (FVIPs): ​ GCFV and the Georgia Department of Community Supervision (DCS) establish standards for FVIPs in Georgia. Certified FVIPs are designed to rehabilitate family violence offenders and are charged with prioritizing victim safety and participant accountability. GCFV assists DCS in training, certifying, and monitoring FVIPs. Community Task Forces: ​ GCFV works to create and maintain family violence task forces within each of Georgia’s 49 judicial circuits. Statistics show that implementing a Coordinated Community Response to family violence, such as a community task force, can help to lower a community’s family violence homicide rate. Domestic Violence Data Enhancement: ​ GCFV gathers and disseminates data pertaining to domestic violence-related deaths in Georgia with the purpose of formulating recommendations for systemic change in the response to family violence. Support for Survivors of Murder-Suicide: ​ GCFV provides supportive services to survivors of domestic violence murder-suicide incidents in Georgia and provides training and technical assistance to build the capacity of Georgia’s communities to support individuals who have experienced a loss to a murder-suicide incident. Legislative Advocacy: G CFV has been instrumental in the creation of laws to enhance safety for victims of family violence and their children, including those related to shelter confidentiality, Georgia’s Protective Order Registry, FVIP Certification, increased penalties for offenders and increased resources for victims.    6