KENTUCKY — This year is the 40th anniversary of the Kentucky Coalition Against Domestic Violence (KCADV) agency which administers $13 million in state and federal funds to its 15 member programs across the commonwealth.

The agency also advocates domestic violence-related issues at the state and federal levels.

During this In Focus Kentucky segment, KCADV Chief Executive Officer Angela Yannelli and Chief Operating Officer Isela Arras join host Mario Anderson to explain the organization's mission to mobilize and support member programs and allies to end intimate partner violence, not just during the month of October, but all year long.

"So our coalition, headquartered in Frankfort actually, represents the 15 regional domestic violence shelter programs that serve 120 counties in Kentucky. They are open 24 hours a day, every day of the year, and have been throughout the COVID pandemic. The services that they provide are pretty broad and goes all the way from providing emergency shelter, a safe place to stay for individuals who need to flee domestic violence situations. They offer counseling, peer to peer support, legal advocacy, little bit of medical advocacy, they provide for basic needs," explained Yannelli.

KCADV runs a Certification Program for all domestic violence program staff including 30 hours of classroom instruction and operates an Economic Empowerment Program serving survivors across the state. KCADV also advocates on domestic violence-related issues while coordinating an annual conference with the Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs and provides resources, training, and technical assistance to its member programs.

"So, you know, there's a variety of reasons why domestic violence can exist, and I think that, no one answer sort of addresses all of those things. I think it's important to look at people's vulnerabilities and see where it is that someone can use power and control over their partner. Domestic violence is a situation in which a partner uses power and control to resolve conflict in an intimate partnership, or tries to control their partner. And so, when we have people who don't have the ability to manage conflict in their relationships in healthy ways, or to be able to handle stress in their relationships in healthy ways and what can happen is that people use violence to solve those problems," added Arras.