About Us

Mission Statement | Philosophy | Goals | Purposes of UDVC | UDVC Membership Application

The Utah Domestic Violence Council (UDVC), formerly the Utah Domestic Violence Advisory Council, was founded in 1978 by the Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS). The UDVC was initially formed as a community forum to start a dialogue about domestic violence in the state of Utah. The UDVC incorporated in 1993, and in 1994 the Council became independent of DCFS. In 1998 the UDVC was designated as a 501c(3), non-for-profit organization.

The UDVC is recognized nationally as the state domestic violence coalition in Utah. It receives two thirds of its funding from a federal Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) state coalition grant. The other third comes from a Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) grant. This grant currently funds outreach to under-served communities.

Currently the UDVC is comprised of 36 voting members (please click here if you would like to be considered for membership on the UDVC). The Council employs five staff members and has 13 working committees. The Council also works closely with and provides funding for Utah’s 23 local domestic violence coalitions, as well as collaborating with and providing resources and information to many individuals and agencies.

The UDVC’s unique status as both a grass roots, open community forum and a non-for-profit Council as well as its local and national relationships allow it to function with efficiency and effectiveness. Throughout the past 25 years the UDVC has shown extraordinary achievement in becoming the leader of Utah's collaborative statewide effort to eliminate domestic violence.

The Utah Domestic Violence Council would like to extend an open invitation to everyone to attend our council and committee meetings and to apply for membership, if desired. The council meets the third Tuesday of January, February, April, June, August, September, and November at the Department of Human Services (120 N. 200 W., Salt Lake City 84103). For more information contact the UDVC office at (801) 521-5544.

Mission Statement:

To lead a collaborative, statewide, effort to eliminate domestic violence.

Philosophy:

· Domestic violence is a crime.

· Domestic violence is preventable.

· Victims/survivors are not to blame.

· Perpetrators are responsible for their own actions.

· The most effective way to reduce domestic violence is through coordinated community effort.

Goals:

1. Support laws that provide protection and accountability.

2. Educate public and professional entities to understand and effectively address domestic violence as a critical social issue.

3. Provide effective resources for victims, perpetrators, families, and communities.

Purposes of UDVC include:

· To develop and review suggested domestic violence policies and procedures.

· Recommend and support legal and legislative action.

· Suggest and support initiatives, including training focused on providing effective domestic violence intervention/prevention services to Utah communities.

· Encourage the evaluation of the quality and efficiency of domestic violence programs.

· Foster cooperation and coordination between and among Utah agencies and organizations.

· Advocate for the prompt availability and accessibility of domestic violence services to all residents of the state, in a manner which preserves human dignity and overcomes cultural, linguistic and economic barriers.