National census of services shows large demand and serious lack of resources 

Kentucky shelters turned away 95 victims on one day in 2014; most needed housing assistance

In a single day in 2014, Kentucky domestic violence programs served 958 adults and children. However, a significant number of requests for help - 95 -- went unmet because domestic violence agencies lacked the funding and staff to meet the demand. 

The data comes from the release of the National Network to End Domestic Violence's ninth National Census of Domestic Violence Services.  The census was conducted on September 10, 2014. All of Kentucky's 15 regional domestic violence programs participated, said KCADV's Executive Director Sherry Currens.

Many programs reported a critical shortage of funds and staff to assist victims who needed transportation, child care, language translation, legal services, and mental health and substance abuse counseling. Of the 95 unmet requests for help, 67 were from victims who needed emergency shelter or housing. Programs blamed a lack of staffing as a reason they could not meet all requests for services.

Nationally, domestic violence programs served more than 67,646 adults and children in the United States with more than 10,871 requests going unmet.

More information about the National Census of Domestic Violence Services is available online at http://www.nnedv.org/census.

Assistant Director Mary O'Doherty and Board President Darlene Thomas met with Rep. Andy Barr who represents the 6th Congressional District. 

KCADV representatives met with members of the Kentucky Congressional Delegation and/or their staff on May 3 in Washington DC to advocate for increased funding for victim services programs. Assistant Director Mary O'Doherty and Board President Darlene Thomas focused on programs funded by the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA), and the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA). Advocates from more than 40 states participated in the Advocacy Days conference organized by the National Network to End Domestic Violence. 

If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it must be a successful fundraiser!

The ducks came to Paducah and made quite a splash in the fight against domestic violence. The 1st Annual Paducky Derby was held on April 25th at Noble Park in Paducah. The event was presented by James Marine, Inc., and the American Quilter's Society and sponsored by a host of other businesses. The Paducky Derby featured 6,000 "adopted" rubber ducks that "raced" to the finish line in support of the Merryman House Domestic Crisis Center. The event raised more than $33,000 to aid the Merryman House in fulfilling its mission of saving, building and changing the lives of those affected by domestic violence. "We are blown away by the tremendous support we had for this event," said Executive Director, Mary Foley, "It proved to be a light-hearted way to talk about and support a very heavy issue. Thank you to all who made it a success."