Peace In Our Families will act as the steering committee for the project.
By Donna M. Perry
Staff Writer

WILTON – A local agency has received a grant to help assess effectiveness of programs in place to help victims of domestic violence. The information will be used to do what needs to be done to keep victims safe.

Healthy Community Coalition has received a $15,000 grant to be spread over two years from the Maine Women’s Fund.

Peace In Our Families, a local task force aimed at preventing family violence in communities, will act as the steering committee for the project and will conduct an audit of community effectiveness in responding to domestic violence, said coalition Executive Director Leah Binder.

“We will be interviewing women who have [been victims of] domestic violence and evaluate how the existing system in greater Franklin County keeps women safe,” she said. “We’re going to look for gaps in services and we’re going to try to work together to fill in these gaps.”

The coalition is seeking additional funding to support the project, she said. The coalition will use $20,000 of its in-kind services, including facilities, marketing and outreach services – things it currently does in the community to match the grant.

Peace In Our Families Task Force has a wide variety of individuals and agencies involved in the project, including Abused Women’s Advocacy Project, Sexual Assault Victims Emergency Services, Maine Abuse Prevention and Pine Tree Women’s Care.

“We know from our experience working with women in the community that there are sometimes problems that arise that we could do more to solve,” Binder said. “That’s what this project proposes to do.”

“This is more than just a report and assessment,” she said. “It’s more than just a research project. We want to use this information to make real and lasting changes. We want everybody sitting at the table looking at the gaps and figure out how to make it work.”

dperry@sunjournal.com