The Assets for Independence (AFI) Resource Center had developed a collection of resources relating to assisting domestic violence survivors build assets, use Individual Development Accounts, and gain financial independence. Resources are provided to help AFI programs better understand domestic violence, ways to partner with domestic violence programs, and information to share with domestic violence service providers about ways AFI can help survivors. A section also exists, especially for domestic violence service providers, that explains what AFI is and how the program can help. These resources would be helpful for TANF agencies and AFI programs to share with domestic violence service providers in their area to help build collaboration.

Mending the Sacred Hoop is an organization charged with ending violence against Native women and children. Violence against all women is a social problem that has wide-ranging consequences for society. As such, it requires social change to help alleviate the problem. Native women are the highest victimized population by perpetrators of all racial groups in the United States. The Sacred Hoop Tribal Domestic Violence Coalition works to build the capacity of survivors, advocates, Native women’s organizations, and victim service providers to end violence against Native women in Minnesota. Mending the Sacred Hoop also has a Technical Assistance Project, which provides technical assistance to the Office on Violence Against Women Tribal grantees.

The PeerTA Network that provided an overview of the relationship between economic security and the empowerment of domestic violence survivors; outlined models of asset-building programs for survivors of domestic violence; and explained partnerships between TANF agencies, the domestic violence community, and asset-building programs that work to ensure the economic security and, ultimately, the safety and self-sufficiency of survivors of domestic violence. Anne Menard from the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence facilitated the webinar. Speakers included MaryLouise Kelley and Shawndell Dawson of the Family Violence Prevention and Services Program within the Family and Youth Services Bureau, Kim Pentico from the National Network to End Domestic Violence, and Ilene Stohl from the Washington State Coalition against Domestic Violence.

Research and statistics indicate that Native women are victims of violence at rates much higher than their non-native counterparts. This violence can include domestic violence, sexual assault, and physical assault by strangers. The violence and its effects are often significant barriers to work and self sufficiency for Tribal TANF participants along with lasting emotional, physical and spiritual scars. The Welfare Peer Technical Assistance Network sponsored a Webinar entitled, "Domestic Violence and TANF Partnership in Indian Country" on June 27th at 2:00 pm Eastern Time. Topics included models for partnering with domestic violence agencies, culturally appropriate ways of handling domestic violence when working with Native survivors and an overview of resources available for engaging Native survivors.

The United States Conference of Mayors published the findings of a survey documenting 77 cities within 31 States and their current strategies of domestic violence prevention and response. The survey’s report explains the size and scope of domestic violence and examines findings using data collected from survey responses and previous research. The report describes specific prevention and response strategies submitted by cities and States: public-private partnerships, best practices, and coordinated community response. This report represents a significant initiative towards improving domestic violence prevention and response. As the report shows, responding efficiently to domestic violence requires a significant amount of time and effort. In order to provide the best services possible, it is essential to collaborate and share strategies.

This report details the Family Violence Option and some of the current issues that exist in implementing the policy for violence victims. Case studies are given based on the policies and practices in New York City, Washington D.C., and San Francisco. Each city’s data was examined to determine how many TANF applicants identified themselves as victims of domestic violence and how many were granted waivers and given services as mandated by the Family Violence Option. Recommendations are provided for Federal, State, and local TANF agencies as well as domestic violence advocates.

In State College, Pennsylvania, home to Penn State University, there were over 500 cases of domestic violence from 2001 to 2003. In the same two-year period, the only homicides reported were domestic violence related. One of the victims of these cases was Amy Homan McGee. In order to raise awareness of domestic violence, Penn State Public Broadcasting has recently released "Telling Amy’s Story: the Story of Amy Homan McGee." The story is told by Detective Deirdri Fishel, the primary investigator and Case Manager of the State College Police Department’s Victim Center Intensive Care Management (VCICM) Unit. The film serves to educate its viewers and raise awareness of the gravity of domestic violence. The film’s Web site functions as a forum for discussion of the film and domestic violence, offers resources for domestic violence awareness, especially in relation to the prevention of domestic violence, and focuses on methods to protect domestic violence victims based on the lives of previous victims. "Telling Amy’s Story" is a powerful resource for those interested in learning more about how to prevent domestic violence on both an individual and systematic level.

It is widely recognized that a large portion of TANF participants have encountered domestic violence at some point in their lives. The violence and its effects are often significant barriers to work and self sufficiency for TANF participants. To coincide with Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Peer Technical Assistance Network sponsored a webinar on the topic, entitled “Overcoming Domestic Violence as a Barrier to Employment through TANF Partnerships” on October 13th, 2010. Speakers for the event included Mary Roberto, Colorado Works Section Manager and Ruth Glenn, Director of the Colorado Department of Human Services’ Domestic Violence Program; Marylouise Kelley, Director of the Family Violence Prevention & Services Program at the Family and Youth Services Bureau; and Anne Menard, Director of the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence.

The Native American Communities Justice Project, an initiative through the Center for Families, Children, and the Courts, authored this policy brief on the court system and issues of family violence. In 2009, over 500 Native Americans and California court personnel gathered together to learn from Native American family violence victims and those who help them in order to consider how California’s courts can better serve these families. This brief outlines key findings from this series of meetings and lessons learned from this important collaboration.

The Domestic Violence Awareness Project (DVAP) is a partnership of local, Tribal, State, and national domestic violence organizations and networks. The DVAP collaborates to collect, develop, and distribute resources and ideas relevant to advocates' ongoing public and prevention awareness and education efforts, not only in preparation for Domestic Violence Awareness Month, but also throughout the year. The DVAP’s Web site includes a wide variety of resources on domestic violence, including materials, video resources, events, and domestic violence campaigns.