Southern Hilltown Domestic Violence Task Force

The Task Force meets monthly to develop and support local direct service projects and to launch a variety of prevention, outreach, training, and service coordination efforts. In 2004 the Task Force released a fatality review report on the murder of Karen Trudeau which influenced court practices in several states. In 2006 the Task Force established a non-profit organization Hilltown Safety at Home which provides local advocacy services, transportation and court accompaniment to hilltown residents who experience domestic violence. The Task Force helped state and local police launch a monthly police chiefs meeting which allows police to coordinate their response to domestic violence, review high risk cases, and plan annual trainings. Gateway Regional School District frequently partners with the Task Force to implement prevention efforts including the first social norms dating violence prevention project in the country as well as annual White Ribbon Campaigns, essay contests, a Karen Hart scholarship, and the development of a student led school climate task force. Task Force outreach projects include palm cards, posters, bystander campaigns using dozens of local residents in public service ads, outreach on local cable stations, resource guides for professionals, and brochures aimed at those who are being abused but do not intend to leave their home. Periodically, the Task Force mails brochures to every home in the region.