![]() FLEX FUND GRANT PROGRAM ESTABLISHED TO SUPPORT SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SLC, UT - Fight Against Domestic Violence (FADV), in partnership with CAPSA and the Dell Loy Hansen Family Foundation, are excited to announce the creation of the Flex Fund Grant Program, designed to meet the individual needs of domestic violence survivors as they rebuild their lives. The Flex Fund program is currently being piloted with CAPSA, a domestic violence provider serving Northern Utah, with a goal to reach all providers and their clients across the entire state of Utah within one year. In Utah, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 7 men will experience domestic violence in their lifetime. On average, a victim may attempt to leave an abusive partner seven times before they are successful. Financial insecurity is a primary reason many survivors report staying in an abusive relationship or returning even after they have left previously. “We believe each survivor is the expert on their own situation and needs,” says Brooke Muir, FADV’s Executive Director. “And this program helps them cover expenses they deem most important at the moment.” The goal of the Flex Fund program is to support survivors by removing financial barriers that might prevent a survivor from confidently and successfully rebuilding their life in the way they prefer. Every situation is unique, as are the needs of individuals. “This innovative program is purposely flexible to meet the individual needs of survivors,” says Muir. “A survivor might need assistance with housing, car repairs, utilities, healthcare costs, child care, or with the purchase of everyday household items.” Beginning July 7, 2021 survivors can apply to the Flex Fund program with the assistance of their case manager. By working with local domestic violence service providers like CAPSA, FADV ensures that applicants are receiving complete support and care. Partnering with local service providers ensures that contact and support with the client is maintained, and that each case is handled with sensitivity to the survivor. CALL TO ACTION The Dell Loy Hansen Family Foundation (DLHFF) is proud to support this program and has issued a Matching Challenge! For every dollar you donate, the Dell Loy Hansen Family Foundation will match your gift up to $100,000. DLHFF is guided by “Individuals helping individuals. Identifying Unmet Needs. Providing Opportunity. Minimizing Obstacles.” The FADV Flex Fund will help meet the individual needs of families, minimize the obstacles survivors face, provide opportunities for families to live safe, productive lives, and break the cycle of family violence. Don’t delay! Double your donation by visiting www dot Help UT dot org. FADV and CAPSA Partnership CAPSA is a nonprofit domestic violence, sexual assault, and rape recovery center serving Cache and Rich counties. “We have been proud to support CAPSA with their innovative efforts in supporting survivors. Working with their Executive Director, Jill Anderson and her team, has been a great learning experience,” says FADV Executive Director, Brooke Muir. “CAPSA has found creative ways to support their clients and their families. They have been a leading voice in housing policy, community education, and police response. FADV is excited to take the Flex Fund program developed in partnership with CAPSA, and share it with service providers across the state of Utah. Domestic violence is a complicated, dangerous, and pervasive problem. But we have a real opportunity to make an impact not just in one community, but throughout our great state. Utah is a leader in healthcare and technology, we can also lead the way in creating safe, violence-free communities. ABOUT FADV Fight Against Domestic Violence is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Our mission is “to generate resources for domestic violence survivors and service providers, through corporate, individual, and community partnerships.” FADV was founded in February 2017 by a group of passionate individuals determined to combat domestic violence through improved education, awareness, resources, and outreach. FADV is particularly focused on identifying gaps in our community’s domestic violence safety-net and creating programs to close those gaps. For more information on FADV, visit our website www.fadv.org or email us at info@fadv.org. ABOUT CAPSA CAPSA is the state and federally recognized domesti violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking, and rape crisis and recovery center for Cache and Rich counties. Founded in 1976 on the campus of USU as a rape resource, CAPSA has expended to provide emergency shelter, clinical therapy, community education, casework, and other resources to those affected by abuse. Anyone who feels unsafe at home or within the confines of a relationship can call CAPSA’s 24-hour support phone line at 435-753-2500. A person in immediate danger should call 9-1-1. ******** For interviews contact: Brooke Muir, Executive Director for FADV, brooke@fadv.org, 801-455-9237 (mobile) by Jessie Richards, PhD (FADV Co-Founder and Advisory Director) *a version of this post was originally published in the 2019 Winter Issue of Silicon Slopes Magazine. Utah, 1 in 3I’m going to get real for a minute, and I need you all to stick with me because our silence around this issue is literally killing people. In Utah, 1 in 3 women will experience some form of domestic violence this year. Also, in Utah, approximately 40 percent of adult homicides are related to domestic violence. And the Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that in lost productivity alone, domestic violence costs businesses more than $729 million a year, often climbing higher than $4 billion when medical and mental health care costs are included. Despite the impact of domestic violence on the population, workplace cultures, and business profitability, very few workplaces have programs in place to support people in unsafe relationships. But Utah can be the state to change all that. Utah is in a unique position to be a national leader on this issue. Our philanthropic culture, our start-up mania, and our focus on families are all factors contributing to a statewide movement by Utah businesses to alleviate burdens and barriers for victims/survivors and to support employees in these situations. The Toll of Domestic Violence in our Communities |