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Building Capacity

What is Capacity Building and Why is it Necessary?

The field of domestic violence prevention is emerging. Along with this, comes the need to engage in ongoing capacity building. Capacity building is the process of developing and strengthening skills, instincts, abilities, processes and resources. It is a necessary component of growing the field of violence prevention, as well as building a strong foundation for individuals and organizations to successfully and effectively design, plan, implement and evaluate their prevention efforts.

DCADV is Here to Help

DCADV is engaged in building prevention capacity throughout the First State in a variety of ways:  training, technical assistance, and workforce development.

  • Training

    DCADV offers trainings on the foundations of prevention work. We also offer trainings that address the main priority areas of our prevention work: fostering safety, health, and wellbeing for youth; and improving economic opportunities. For more information or to request a training, contact training@dcadv.org.

  • Technical Assistance

    Technical assistance (TA) is the process of offering support, guidance, and resources. As Delaware’s federally recognized domestic violence coalition, DCADV provides technical assistance on a broad spectrum of topics related to domestic violence, including prevention. If you have questions about how to implement a prevention program, how to evaluate it, or want to talk through some of the challenges you're facing in your prevention work, we are here to help.

  • Workforce Development

    One of the principles of effective prevention is having staff/volunteers who are competent and have received sufficient training, support, and supervision. [M. Nation, et.al, 2003]. This includes ensuring that folks new to the workforce are properly equipped with the appropriate skills/resources, as well as continued training and support to those already in the field.

    DCADV collaborates with the University of Delaware through their Domestic Violence Prevention and Services (DVPS) Concentration and Minor. DVPS, a program of the Department of Women and Gender Studies at the University of Delaware, prepares students for a range of careers focused on domestic violence. The program is the only one of its kind available to undergraduates in the United States, and was developed in conjunction with the certification and training curriculum of DCADV. The DVPS concentration combines coursework and practical experience by partnering with local domestic violence agencies and state systems to offer concentration students the opportunity to participate in internships and a ten-week summer practicum.

    The Delaware Domestic Violence Specialist (DVS) Certification was established by DCADV to both recognize and enhance the skills of advocates and service providers working in the prevention and/or intervention of intimate partner violence. The certification process helps to ensure standards of training and service are consistently high for those working in Delaware’s Domestic Violence system. Certified specialists are dedicated to continued skills development and mentoring of new advocates. DCADV offers a number of trainings to those already working in the field to stay up-to-date on best practices in the field.

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