5 days ago
Columbus OKs funding to fight domestic violence
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Columbus City Council has authorized funding to help a program city leaders said is vital in the fight against domestic violence.
Monday, the city council authorized $345,130 from the general fund to keep the Advocacy Crisis Team for Domestic Violence (ACT-DV), a partnership between Columbus police and Nationwide Children's Hospital's Center of Family Safety and Healing.
City leaders hope the money will help expand the program.
How ACT-DV works is when police respond to a domestic violence situation, they will call advocates with Nationwide Children's Hospital to the scene to focus on the victims.
'When surveyed officers shared their confidence in ACT-DV and saying the partnership provides a better response in producing results for victims than other programs,' Dr. Joanne Lunceford, deputy director of the Office of Violence Prevention, said at Monday's Columbus City Council meeting.
This allows the Office of Violence Prevention to enter a one-year contract with the center. The money will keep the partnership going between the police department and the hospital instead of having to outsource for advocates.
'Expanding ACT-DV services would provide the opportunity to continue building trust and safe options for some of our most vulnerable community members,' Lunceford said.
At Monday's meeting, Lunceford said the hope is to bring on more advocates, having one for each police zone.
ACT-DV started as a pilot program in 2023. Nationwide said it expanded in 2024 and is now fully available in two zones of the city, but can be available in all areas if called.
Once the scene is secured, advocates will arrive. This frees police to focus on the investigation while the advocate can focus on helping the victim.
'Our goal is to get out to make sure that person feels grounded at a very chaotic and confusing time, then we work alongside officers knowing we have a different role,' Amber Howell, a clinical supervisor for the Center for Family Safety and Healing, said.
City leaders declared domestic violence an emergency, saying the program has been extremely helpful but noting difficulties with staffing.
The ordinance will officially take effect once signed by Mayor Andrew Ginther.
The team responded to more than 220 calls in 2024.
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