Increasing Funding for Domestic Violence Shelters and Community Programs 

The Ohio Domestic Violence Network (ODVN) is requesting a $20 million total allocation for the biennium to the Domestic Violence line item in the FY 2024-2025 budget to sustain our programs and allow them to serve more survivors seeking help. 

Reducing Domestic Violence Fatalities

ODVN supports efforts to incorporate domestic violence risk assessment tools, such as evidence-based lethality assessment screenings, into local communities’ responses to domestic violence. Proposed legislation should include funding for training for law enforcement officers and require officers to refer survivors to our member programs.

Enhancing Child Safety

ODVN supports efforts to create a safer, more child-centered process for children and their families in family court, especially for marginalized survivors who already experience systemic barriers to obtaining safety.  

135th Ohio General Assembly (2023-2024) Tracked Bills

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ODVN is a lead partner on and provides staff and consultant expertise to, the OVC-funded multi-component initiative, Linking Systems of Care for Ohio’s Youth (LSCOY) project, awarded to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office. The project, represented by 76 key Ohio stakeholder organizations, has three main objectives. These objectives include accurately identifying young Ohio victims of traumatic crimes in a wide range of settings; effectively linking the youth to high-quality, trauma-informed resources in or near their community; and building capacity and alignment with, and linking, youth-serving systems at the state level to increase leveraging of resources.

For more information, resources, tools, and links on healing for youth exposed to violence, please visit our new website.

When abusers have access to firearms, the lives of domestic violence victims and their families are in danger. Abusers use firearms to control, threaten, and murder their victims, and in a staggering amount of domestic violence-related homicides in Ohio, firearms are the primary weapon of choice. In ODVN’s 2021-2022 fatality report, gun violence as the manner of death made up 91% of the victim fatalities. 

For more information on domestic violence and firearms please visit: 

• Supreme Court Decision Limits Batterers’ Access to Guns | OVW | Department of Justice
• Guns and Domestic Violence are a Deadly Combination | NNEDV
• Domestic Violence | Everytown | Everytown
• Browse Resources | PreventDVGunViolence.org)
• Firearms Checklist for Law Enforcement
• Firearms Checklist for Prosecutors
• Firearms Checklist for Judges
• Firearms Checklist for Advocates
• Gun Violence | BWJP

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Anonymous Survivor Story Submission

We recognize that survivor voices are vital to creating effective systemic change. While every situation is different, we want to ensure that your public speaking opportunity is as safe and informative as possible. If you are in current litigation, please consult with your attorney before speaking publicly; however, we at ODVN recommend that survivors with an open court case not share their story publicly as there could be unintended negative consequences for you or your children. For more information on public speaking and testifying, please review this guide.

In order to protect you and your children, we encourage you to submit your story via our Anonymous Survivor Story Submission Portal. We will remove identifying information and keep you anonymous if we use your story to educate and inform decision-makers. By submitting your story via this portal, you are giving the Ohio Domestic Violence Network permission to redact or take out identifying information and use your story in testimony, fact sheets, and other public awareness campaigns. Thank you for your interest and willingness to share your lived experience.