The Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence (OCDV) has teamed up with the Advanced Volunteer Opportunity Network (A.V.O.N.) Mentoring Program to improve the social stature of domestic violence victims. The A.V.O.N. foundation awarded the Mayor’s office with a $95,000 grant to help further enrich the work in the office. The grant is a part of the Avon Foundation’s Speak Out Against Domestic Violence Program, which was launched in 2004. Since its launch, the Avon Foundation for Women has provided more than $28 million for domestic and gender violence programs in the United States.The aim of the program is to provide clients with economic empowerment in order to help them break their cycle of abuse. The Avon Mentoring Program is providing assistance by pairing qualified clients with experienced professionals from various industries. This mentorship will allow previous victims to gain valuable professional and developmental skills aimed toward their personal career goals for six consecutive months. The application and criteria to become an Avon Mentor can be found online and are available here.
The Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence (OCDV) is also in partnership with The New York City Family Justice Centers, a public-private affiliation to help improve the City’s partnerships with the private sector. With centers in Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and another coming to Manhattan in the fall, the program enables victims by giving them the opportunity to meet with a prosecutor, speak with a trained counselor, and apply for housing and financial assistance in one visit; language services are available, and children are welcomed to accompany parents.
A.V.O.N. Mentoring program explained here
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This post is brought to you by LawHelpNY intern Abbisola Oxley, a current student and Posse Foundation Scholar at DePauw University studying Black Studies and Political Science.