Who We Are

The Vermont Network was founded in 1988 as a statewide coalition of domestic and sexual violence programs, with a state office in Montpelier.

The 16 Member Programs are located around the state and provide direct services and advocacy for and on behalf of victims and survivors of domestic and sexual violence in their communities. All adhere to basic standards of service as a prerequisite to their membership in the Network, and out of a deep, shared commitment to victims and survivors.

The local programs are autonomous non-profit organizations, accountable to their own governing boards.

Network Member Programs are independent entities with their own governing boards and policies. The 16 Member Programs provide comprehensive domestic and sexual violence services to each community in Vermont. These services include:

· 24 hour toll free hotlines

· Shelter

· Crisis Support Services

· Legal Support

· Peer Support

· Support Groups

· Prevention Education

· Awareness Activities

· Trainings

The Network Office is a statewide resource on domestic and sexual violence issues. Its director and staff provide technical assistance and training to Member Programs and statewide partners, inform Vermont legislators and policy makers, and coordinate statewide projects for systems improvement.

The need for a state office to help with coordination, collaboration, and statewide systems change efforts among sister programs in Vermont was recognized through dialogue between the 16 programs in 1986. In 1988 the Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence[i] received its non-profit status as an independent organization in it’s role of supporting the 16 local programs.

The Board of Directors is constituted of a designated represetnative from each of the 16 Member Programs. The Board creates the policies and goals which guide the work of the Network as a whole.

In our work with individuals, organizations, and society at large, we prioritize:

Safety and support for survivors,
Accountability for perpetrators,
Prevention efforts,
Awareness building, and
Social change.

Dates Local Programs were organized:

1973	Women Against Rape (WAR) started as a group of women answering a hotline at night for women who had been sexually assaulted, this group is now Women's Rape Crisis Center in Burlington.
1974	Women's House of transition, formerly Women's House of Refuge, now Women Helping Battered Women opens in Burlington (opens first shelter in VT in 1976).
1976	Umbrella in St. Johnsbury opens.
1977	Women's Crisis Center (Vermont's second shelter) in Brattleboro is organized.
1979	Herstory House, now Rutland County Women's Network and Shelter opens.
	Franklin County Family Center Abuse and Rape Crisis, now Voices Against Violence, in St. Albans begins providing services.
1980	Clarina Howard Nichols Center opens in Lamoille County.
	Battered Women's Service and Shelter opens in Washington County.
	Addison County Women in Crisis, now WomenSafe, opens.
1981	ABATE O.N.E., now NECKA Step O.N.E. opens in Newport.
	New Beginnings in Springfield is organized.
	Project Against Violence Encounters (PAVE), formerly Project to Advance Victims of Domestic Violence, opens in Bennington.
	WISE extends service to victims in northern Windsor County (located in Lebanon, NH).
1984	Sexual Assault Crisis Team starts providing services to Washington County
	Aid to Women in Abuse and Rape Emergencies (AWARE) opens in Hardwick.
	Chelsea Help for Battered Women, now Safeline, begins providing services to Orange County.

[i] Then the Vermont Network Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. Name changed in January 2005.