CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, VA — Virginia Attorney General Bill Mims has awarded Chesterfield County for its coordinated community response to domestic violence, particularly for outreach to Spanish-speaking victims and for providing services to children who have witnessed domestic violence.

Members of the Chesterfield County Domestic Violence Task Force attended a ceremony Nov. 16 in Richmond to be recognized as part of the attorney general’s “Safe in Our Communities: Community Recognition Program for Promising Practices in Domestic Violence Response.”

The program allows localities to apply for official state recognition for efforts that combat domestic violence. Chesterfield and King George counties were selected in the recent round of awards. Both received $1,000 from the Verizon Wireless HopeLine program to supply victims of domestic violence with cell phones for emergency use.

“Communities that take a stand against domestic violence should be recognized for their promising and innovative programs,” Mims said. “We look forward to sharing the successful efforts of the selected communities with law enforcement agencies, government officials, victim- services providers and others in the private and public sectors across the commonwealth.”

Highlights of Chesterfield County’s application included the creation of a Hispanic/Latino Immigrant Project Task Force and Hispanic victim outreach worker position to improve response to Spanish-speaking victims. Also highlighted was the Referral and Education to Assist Children in Trauma program, or REACT, which links children who have witnessed domestic violence to counseling services.

"When the community begins to understand that violence anywhere affects people everywhere, only then can we have a healthy society,” said Patricia Jones-Turner, coordinator of the Chesterfield County Domestic and Sexual Violence Resource Center.

“Although we are honored to receive this award, the number of victims and children
affected by domestic violence continues to be a problem. Communities must realize that domestic violence is a community problem that cannot be completely eradicated until all members of our society work together."

The goals of the Chesterfield County Domestic Violence Task Force are advocacy for intervention and prevention activities; safety and justice for those impacted by domestic violence; and greater public awareness and understanding of the issue through education and training. The task force is able to provide services with support from the local government, professionals, agencies and organizations dedicated to responding to domestic violence.