GREATER WASHINGTON JEWISH COALITION AGAINST DOMESTIC ABUSE

JCADA’s mission is to support victims of power-based violence to become empowered and live safely; educate the community about power-based violence and appropriate responses; and prevent future generations from suffering power-based violence. JCADA’s support services are 100% free and are available to all residents of the Greater Washington community, 14 years old and older, without regard to race, national origin, ability, background, faith, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, or immigration status.

JCADA’s support services include: trauma-specific 1:1 therapy (available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Hebrew), trauma-specific therapy groups (available in English and Spanish), resiliency workshops, victim advocacy services, direct legal representation in peace and protective orders and crime victims’ rights, brief information and advice on a range of legal issues related to the violence, access to a HelpLine during business hours, and animal-assisted services through a facility-based therapy dog named Tahoe. All support services are 100% free.

JCADA also facilitates a robust program for prevention of power-based violence through its AWARE® program, with workshops designed for youth ages 4th grade through college. The Greater Washington Jewish Coalition Against Domestic Abuse (JCADA)'s Prevention, Education, and Training (PET) program provides evidence-based programming to adolescents, young adults, professionals working with young people, as well as parents, teachers, and professionals. The goal of the PET program is to provide a holistic solution for a community grappling with the impact of power-based violence (PBV). Through developmentally-appropriate adolescent programs, the AWARE program works toward the primary prevention of dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, sexual harassment, and domestic violence. Simultaneously, the program introduces services to adolescents who are experiencing or witnessing PBV in their communities.

JCADA has a professional training program, Building Better Allies (BBA), to help organizations learn to address power-based violence in their workspaces. BBA works with youth and adult serving professionals to help them identify PBV and work to address the issues in a trauma-focused and victim-centered way. By working with schools and community organizations, JCADA is able to provide Two-Three Generations of prevention and education programming in one setting. JCADA also conducts community education workshops for members of the community who are interested in learning more about power-based violence or power-based violence in religiously marginalized communities.

JCADA’s clinical team makes use of cutting edge, evidence-based strategies to help people process trauma. JCADA’s Clinical Director is
certified in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)®, and many of our clinicians are also able to provide this therapy. JCADA clinicians were also trained in Somatic Experiencing® and Sand Tray therapy.

JCADA’s Legal Services Program provides victims of power-based violence with direct legal representation in Protective Orders, Peace Orders, and Crime Victims’ Rights Representation.

JCADA’s newest initiative is our Victim Advocacy Program. Launched in January of 2018, this program has expanded to fill a tremendous gap in services offered to our clients. JCADA’s Victim Advocacy services include: Providing assistance with basic necessities (grocery or gas gift cards); Case management; Utilizing community resource and referral partners to secure financial, transportation, clothing, relocation, and employment assistance; Emergency cell phones; Court accompaniment as well as accompaniment to other hearings; Managing JCADA’s volunteer financial planner; Helping apply for public benefits and other government programs; Helping clients enroll in the Address Confidentiality Program; Assisting clients with applications or paperwork for a variety of case needs; and Safety planning.

In order to prevent power based violence, JCADA developed the AWARE® program prevention initiative for youth and young adults in 6th
grade to college. Since creation in 2009, AWARE® has engaged over 14,000 teens, parents, and educators. JCADA facilitates workshops and provides ongoing training and consultation about power-based violence for communities, schools, and leaders. Our workshops vary in topic and scope as we train on subjects related to domestic abuse, sexual and workplace harassment and elder abuse. We provide: Clergy trainings and an online resource center; Power based violence workshops and training for service providers and community members;
Community forums; Conference sessions; Lunch and learns; and Educational panels on domestic violence.

As of 2019, JCADA has entered into Memoranda of Understanding or other written partnerships with the DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence (DCCADV), DC Coalition to End Sexual Violence (DCCESV), DC Domestic Violence Mental Health Continuum, DC Victim Assistance Network (DCVAN) , the Fairfax Domestic Violence Action Center (DVAC), Fairfax County Domestic Violence Network, Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Actin Alliance, Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA), Maryland Legislative Agenda for Women, Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence, Montgomery County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council, Montogemery County Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team, the Montgomery County Family Justice Center (FJC), ElderSAFE and DC SAFE.

These partnerships create a direct referral source from the major mainstream providers in three jurisdictions to JCADA’s legal, clinical, and advocacy services. We have expanded our capacity to handle a high volume of clients by adding clinicians, lawyers and advocates to our team. As a recognized community partner, we participate in local task forces and working groups committed to our shared goal of ending the cycle of domestic violence in our community. We are dedicated to avoiding duplication of services.

Our newest endeavor is a community engagement program called Friends of JCADA. Through educational opportunities we aim to inform our partners in the community with ways they can join our movement to eradicate power-based violence. Friends of JCADA will be invited to regularly scheduled “Lunch & Learns,” Advocacy Workshops, and special events. By connecting with more partners in the Greater Washington Area, we will increase giving, advocacy for our agency, and eliminate power-based violence through prevention programs.