Public Policy
The MCADSV is a statewide coalition of individuals and organizations working together to end domestic and sexual violence through advocacy, public education, public policy and program development. Our mission is to support and facilitate networking among our member organizations while advocating for social and systems change in Montana. One of those activities - public policy work - is an ongoing process that is most effective if we all work together. It involves educating, informing and working with decision-makers (at the local, state, and federal levels) so that the policies and programs they implement pay heed to the consequences, both negative and positive, that their decisions might have for victims of domestic and sexual violence and the services they can access.A large portion of the policy work that MCADSV undertakes can be divided into two areas: State-Level and Federal Level.
State-Level Policy Work
The most visible policy work we do at the state level is to monitor Montana's Legislative Session, educating elected officials on the issues important to victims of domestic and sexual violence, our programs, and to the status of families in Montana. We also collaborate closely with those state-level organizations and governmental agencies whose work is related. Below are a number of links that highlight topics relevant to our work.Domestic Violence Statutes
Sexual Violence Statutes
Economic Justice (TANF)
Funding for Montana's Direct Service Programs
CPS/DV Protocol Workgroup
State Legislature
Barring special sessions, Montana's legislature meets for 90 days every two years. In those 90 days, law makers deliberate over general bills and set appropriation levels for the next two years. Click here to see what legislation MCADSV tracked during the 2007 Session. If you have suggestions for future statutory changes, e-mail Kelsen, MCADSV's Policy Coordinator.
Federal-Level Policy Work
MCADSV partners with a number of national organizations to educate Montana's 3-person Congressional Delegation about issues related to domestic and sexual violence and to inform them about pending federal legislation that is relevant. We are a member of the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV), which has been working with Congress on issues related to domestic violence, Violence Against Women Act funding, and victims' rights.Click here to go to the Legislative Action Center on the NNEDV Web site and check out the most current information on the policy issues they feel are critical. Unfortunately, the NNEDV does not yet have a sexual violence counterpart, although sexual violence advocates are working to establish a national presence.
Montana's Congressional Delegation
Montana currently has three members in it's congressional delegation: two Senators and one Congressman. Since they represent all of Montana, it is important to keep them informed about our concerns and the issues we consider important. We also need to thank them and encourage them whenever they support us and our positions. Click here for the addresses and phone numbers for their Montana and Washington DC offices.
Policy Resources
Since you are here, you are probably interested in building a better understanding of some of the public policy issues related to domestic and sexual violence. Below are some of the resources that we use on a regular basis. In addition to these resources, check out the resources on our Domestic Violence and Sexual Violence pages.Reports and Publications
An number of organizations and groups are conducting studies and publishing reports and papers that contain helpful information. Below are links to some of the ones we've found most helpful or most interesting.
Facts and Numbers
Statistics can be very helpful to shape one's understanding of the scope and intricacies of an issue or project. On other pages of MCADSV Web site you will find links to some of the national statistics relevant to domestic and sexual violence. National statistics are important, but when working with Montana policymakers, having Montana statistics is key. The repository for that data, however, depends upon what you are looking for. Click on the links below to check out three primary sources of data related to victimization and sexual and domestic violence.
Montana Board of Crime Control: The MBCC is the respository for the statistics that law enforcement agencies across the state collect. The Web site offers a number of crime reports, some of which searchable by county and crime.
Montana State Supreme Court: The Montana Supreme Court Administrator's Office publishes the Annual Reports of the Montana Judiciary, which provide some information about the cases tried before Montana Courts. They report numbers for domestic violence and a number of other crimes.
PDQ Statistics: The Montana Board of Crime Control and the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services compile quarterly statistics collected by programs that provide direct services to victims of domestic and sexual violence.
Links
A lot of groups are working in this field and have Web sites that could provide important information. Below are links to Web sites that we use most often for policy-related research.
Montana State Legislature: This page provides links to bills and legislative action for the past four legislative sessions. It is also provides a link to a searchable database of Montana's Code and Constitution.
Thomas:Hosted by the U.S. Library of Congress, this site is the Internet portal to the U.S. Congress. Here you can find out about legislation, what is scheduled for the House and Senate Floors and committee action.
The National Network to End Domestic Violence: In addition to its Legislative Action Center, NNEDV also has a current listing of all state coalitions and links to their Web sites, many of which have policy sections. It's a good way to get a glimpse into what activists in other states are doing.
American Bar Association Commissions:The American Bar Association has a number of commissions on various policy topics that intersect with the work we do. One of those is the Commission on Domestic Violence. This page has links to the Web site pages of all those commissions.
National Sexual Violence Resource Center: This is a good page to find links and discussion of legislation related to sexual violence.
Center for Law and Social Policy: This organization conducts research, policy analysis, technical assistance, and advocacy on issues related to economic security for low-income families with children.
National Center for Victims of Crime: This site is a good place to find statistics, updated information, and links to ongoing policy issues related to domestic and sexual violence and victims of all crimes.