Things are changing daily regarding federal orders and the impact of potential federal funding losses. It is time for Ion Center and our supporters to call our KY federal congress members (and if you live in OH you can call Ohio too). Phone calls make a difference, and we need our voices to be heard. I want you all to know we are doing all we can to ensure the critical work of the Ion Center continues. Below, you will see some information on the latest issuance of orders and reductions that directly impact us. Please call your congress members, and feel free to use the sample language below.
WE will get through this and continue our amazing work!
Much appreciation,
Christy
Good Information:
We have been made aware of changes in federal funding and staffing that could have a major impact on the care of communities and people impacted by power-based personal violence. Below you will find the condensed information received from our state and national coalitions. I have also attached an Ion Center Impact Summary that talks about the potential impact of the loss or major reduction of federal funds for the Ion Center. This sheet is the potential impact, remember we have lots of contingencies and advocacy left to do. I know these things can be anxiety producing.
On March 24, HHS terminated more than $11 billion in grants and cooperative agreements funded by appropriations from Covid-19 related laws (called Public Health Terminations). Today, a new lawsuit was filed by AGs in 22 States and the DC, and the Governors of KY and PA, in US District Court for the District of RI that seeks declaratory and injunctive relief – request for emergency TRO. Also, today, we learned about the abrupt reductions to HHS and CDC offices and staffing (among other agencies) that affect grant programs supporting survivors. We understand that Shawndell Dawson, Director of the Office of Family Violence Prevention and Services (OFVPS), was placed on administrative leave last night. We need to take action now to express our grave concern about the impacts this will have on the nation’s response to domestic violence and sexual assault.
This goes far beyond a personnel issue or individual position in terms of its potential to disrupt an essential leadership function of this work. Instead, this threatens decades of a successful public health response to domestic violence and a burgeoning public health response to sexual assault.
The work of the OFVPS office is specialized. OFVPS administers the Family Violence and Prevention Act (FVPSA), which is at the heart of our nation’s response to domestic violence and supports lifesaving services, including shelters, hotlines, counseling, and domestic violence programs throughout the states and territories. The functions of the OFVPS office are unique to the field and leadership requires broad expertise of both domestic violence and sexual assault. Moreover, Director Dawson and the OFVPS office have had a critical role in addressing the intersections of domestic violence and sexual assault with other health issues.
Below is contact information for all of KY. This advocacy matters! Thanks, you all!
Key messages to include in outreach:
Reinstate Shawndell Dawson at OFVPS
Preserve and strengthen OFVPS funding
Push back on the elimination of CDC’s RPE and DELTA branches, which will have serious impacts on prevention efforts across communities
Sample message language:
I am calling to leave a message for “Congressman Barr” I am with the Ion Center for Violence Prevention in BT or NKY Kentucky. – Please help us by reinstating Director Shawndell Dawson at the Office of Family Violence Prevention and Services. Her leadership is critical to the function of the nation’s public health response to domestic violence and sexual assault. We are also asking you to reinstatement the Program Branch and Research and Evaluation Branch at the CDC to ensure critical primary preventative services for domestic violence and sexual violence are not interrupted. Without this leadership and branches people are at risk for an increase in violence, these departments and people make America safer.
Here is the list of contacts: https://www.quorum.us/spreadsheet/external/TTtTjtbcuqeNwARNWpJd/
Kentucky’s Federal Delegation Resources:
Senator Mitch McConnell
Email
Main office: (202) 224-2541
Field office locations & phone numbers
Senator Rand Paul
Email
Main office: (202) 224-4343
Bowling Green field office: (270) 782-8303
Congressman Andy Barr
Email
Main office: (202) 225-4706
Lexington field office: (859) 219-1366
Congressman James Comer
Email
Main office: (202) 225-3115
Field office locations & phone numbers
Congressman Brett Guthrie
Email
Main office: (202) 225-3501
Field office locations & phone numbers
Congressman Thomas Massie
Email
Main office: (202) 225-3465
Field office locations & phone numbers
Congressman Morgan McGarvey
Email
Main office: (202) 225-5401
Louisville field office: (502) 582-5129
Congressman Hal Rogers
Email
Main office: (202) 225-4601
Field office locations & phone numbers