Coming Together to Support Survivors and Prevent Violence

Huge thanks to all who participated in Sexual Assault and Awareness Month (SAAPM) last month! By showing up for survivors and Doorways, and by engaging with your community, you helped raise critical awareness and provide life-saving support. Stay tuned for Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Month (DVAM) this fall! In the meantime, here are some photos from our SAAPM events and activities!

Who we serve and how we help is always evolving to better serve our clients and our community. From 2015 to 2020, Doorways Domestic and Sexual Violence Programs expanded dramatically; as the need has continued to grow, so has our response.

In 2015, after 37 years of providing Arlington residents with a 24-hour hotline and emergency response for domestic violence, Doorways expanded to offer these services to survivors of sexual assault in our community. The 24-Hour Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline (703-237-0881) pairs Doorways with the Arlington County Police Department, the Arlington Commonwealth’s Attorney's Office, the Sheriff's Office and Department of Human Services. The services provided included hospital accompaniment during forensic exams for victims through a partnership with the Inova Ewing Forensic Assessment and Consultation Teams (FACT department).

Doorways also expanded our shelter capacity for survivors of domestic violence in 2015 through a unique partnership with a local affordable housing provider. This partnership allowed Doorways to lease our first Safe Apartment (also called scattered-site shelter) and to provide emergency temporary shelter for up to four additional survivors at a time. This location not only expanded our capacity to serve more people, but also enhanced our ability to serve survivors with special needs.

In 2016, with a coordinated plan for Doorways to receive new support from Arlington County, Doorways launched the Revive Domestic and Sexual Violence Counseling Program. Through the launch of Revive, Doorways broadened our scope of services to include not only adult survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking, but also youth survivors of dating violence or assault and children exposed to domestic violence or other abuse.

In 2020, Doorways made significant advancements in preventing violence. Long-time supporters Judy Fiske Moak and Kevin Moak made a transformative investment in the future of Doorways and our community with the Moak-Fiske Prevention Innovation and Investment Gift, designed to establish a Prevention Program at Doorways. The program promotes a community culture of safe and healthy relationships so that violence is less likely to occur, especially in marginalized populations.

Stay tuned for more historical highlights in the next edition of This Week at Doorways. Can't wait 'til then? See the timeline in our 2022 annual report!

This series is inspired by our partner PathForward's series marking their 30th anniversary this spring; the idea is used with their permission.

Deliver or send critical supplies for our clients

Contact Ashley Stewart at 703-504-9271 or [email protected] to schedule a donation drop-off during Drive-Thru Deeds on Fridays from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. to drop off your donations. Alternatively, you can ship a gift directly to Doorways via our Amazon Wish List!

This week, urgent needs include:

• Kitchen Sponges
• Dawn Dish Soap
• Fidget/Sensory Toys
• Books (see list)
• Cookware Sets*
• Full-Size Comforters*

*For families moving out of shelter into new homes of their own!

Save the date — Open Hearts, Open Doors is October 26th!