About Us
MISSION
The Springfield Domestic Violence Coalition's mission is three-fold: 1. Foster youth understanding, knowledge, and awareness about What Domestic Violence is and is not, how to identify the signs of Domestic Violence, and why identifying and reporting perceived Domestic Violence is essential. 2. Identify Domestic Violence Abuse and incident rates as reported by criminal justice agencies and court systems, as well as Domestic Violence trends in our community. 3. Promote collaboration between the criminal justice system (law enforcement, prosecutorial offices, and the judiciary) and community organizations serving all populations, including faith-based groups, LGBTQ+ communities, seniors, and minorities.
We achieve our mission by:
1. Establishing a presence in our community High Schools and Universities, organized coalition attendance at community events and festivals. Establishing a presence on social media platforms promoting the coalition's mission. Our goal is to implement our mission through educating our youth and young adults about Domestic Violence and its impact on personal health and growth in forming intimate relationships. Informing youth that Domestic Violence can affect all demographics: Income, Race, Educational Level, and the LGBTQ+ communities. Educate youth on how to identify Domestic Violence "Red Flags," educate youth to whom and where to report Domestic Violence, and educate youth in the knowledge that reporting Domestic Violence abusers to law enforcement is a crucial way to reduce Domestic Violence incidents by holding abusers accountable for their actions. Reaffirm to youth that their actions can send a message to the community that Domestic Violence will not be tolerated.
2. Conduct and disseminate research reports, community climate surveys, questionnaires, and needs assessments. Conduct community forums and chats open to the public. Establish quarterly updates and status reports on the state of Domestic Violence arrests, prosecuted cases, and disposition of Domestic Violence court cases. Disseminate the results of these efforts through news media organizations, social media platforms, and professional journals. The result will allow SDVC to advocate for policies, procedures, and legislation that increase police response and arrest rates to Domestic Violence incidents—advocate for aggressive prosecutions in all Domestic Violence charges and related charges. Advocate for Judges to impose maximum allowed sentencing in Domestic Violence Abuser cases.
3. Conducting and establishing quarterly scheduled meetings with Law Enforcement, Prosecutorial Offices, and Judiciary representatives, allowing them to elaborate on each agency's progress and transparency in reducing Domestic Violence within their elected role and offices. Conduct and hold public platforms for community agencies to ensure citizens that each agency is actively protecting our community from Domestic Violence and providing needed support to victims. Establish quarterly scheduled community meetings with organizations serving all populations, including faith-based groups, LGBTQ+ communities, seniors, and minorities, and listen to their interactions with community non-profit groups and law enforcement. Document social and community climate trends occurring in LGBTQ+ communities as they pertain to Domestic Violence. Disseminate SDVC meetings, organizational notes, and status updates held by law enforcement, the prosecutorial offices, and the judiciary to the public.
Why is the SDVC Mission Important?
Because I am a Domestic Violence Survivor
Have you ever had a Bad Day? Well, my bad day turned into 24 years of fighting for my life and survival from multiple domestic violence relationships. To put things into perspective, WW1, WW2, The Korean War, and The Vietnam War all combined ONLY lasted 21 years. My experience with domestic violence goes like this:
24 Years of enduring emotional/verbal abuse
10 Times, I left my abusers
9 Years of being stalked, threatened, and followed
6 times, law enforcement, lawyers, and judges stated I was lying, exaggerating, and hurting myself.
6 Years of financial insecurity
Five Times, I asked for a restraining order, and five times, it was denied
Four Years of my Abuser controlling my religious faith
Two Times, my daughter was kept from me, and the courts did nothing
0 ZERO is the number of arrests my Abuser received.
"I am dedicated to helping Domestic Violence victims find justice and the support they need by engaging our community organizations, Law Enforcement, Prosecutorial Office, appointed Judges, and elected officials to dedicate more time, effort, and resources to combating Domestic Violence and assisting Domestic Violence victims."
Director's Vision
"If you wish to converse with me, define your terms." — Voltaire.
There is a long history of Violence in American society, and anyone is foolish to think that Violence in our society will just suddenly disappear or that Law Enforcement, Prosecutors, and Judges will somehow acquire some Kryptonian physiology, toss on a "Superman cape," and save the day. Therefore, we must have the reassurance that Law Enforcement, Prosecutors, and Judges will abide by their sworn oath to uphold the law and the Constitution, and if by some chance they are not fulfilling their oath, we as citizens must document, report, and gather evidence of such failure. Citizens must raise public awareness through peaceful protests, petitions, or contacting local media to demand transparency. Proper citizens' most crucial obligation is to hold officials accountable through the ballot box and vote for candidates who prioritize upholding the law and the Constitution. Domestic Violence is listed in the Ohio Criminal Code "Section 2919.25 | Domestic violence". Why is there a law established just for Domestic Violence? Why not just a blanket law against all Violence? First, because we are dealing with the seriousness of intimate partner relationship violence.
In most cases, an intimate partner is someone you allow into your heart to have a close and committed emotional and physical relationship to share in the daily exchange of thoughts and feelings you usually would not exchange with parents, friends, relatives, or co-workers. In most intimate relationships, shared obligations such as money, bills, food, education, transportation, and ideological and religious beliefs exist. When a domestic violence situation occurs, there becomes an immediate imbalance of power between the abuser and the victim. Victims become hesitant to come forward for fear of retaliation due to the closeness of the relationship or that this is a one-time incident that both parties can resolve. Conversely, Domestic Violence is not the same as a person who verbally berates you on the street, a co-worker on the job calling you stupid, or a person whom you may have a physical altercation with for attempting to steal your wallet. Domestic Violence encompasses a broader range of abuse. Yes, it can be physical Violence, but It can also include emotional, psychological, and financial abuse because, at one time, you trusted this person completely, and possibly you trusted this person with your life, your kids, your bank account, your car, your house, and the list goes on. The bottom line is that you had enough trust to live together and share a life. Domestic Violence is not a dissolution of a marriage, and you divide property and obligations and part ways amicably. Domestic Violence is a cycle of control and Violence, a pattern of behaviors that keeps survivors locked in the verbal, emotional, spiritual, and financial cycle of abuse. The abuser refuses to let you go (until you die). Law Enforcement, Prosecutors, and Judges have no control over the human condition. However, they did swear an oath to uphold our laws and the Constitution, and we have a law in the books, Section 2919.25 | Domestic Violence. We have police and prosecutors that need to enforce Domestic Violence laws. We need police to respond to Domestic Violence calls and reported incidents and arrests. We need the Prosecutor's Office to take EVERY charge of Domestic Violence to trial. Our Constitution created a foundation for laws protecting people from Violence and other harms. We have Judges who can apply our established laws, analyze the law's text, intent, and relevant precedents, and apply the existing laws sentencing maximum guidelines against people found guilty of Domestic Violence.
WHO IS BETH DONAHUE?
Beth was born and raised in Springfield, and the Springfield Donahue Family goes back five generations in this great city. Beth's Great-Great-Grandparents were married in Springfield in 1878. On a side note, Donahue & Hankel was the first (1st) Beer Distributor company in Clark County in the late 30s.
Beth's Grandfather's picture still hangs in the Springfield Police Department
- Sgt. Bill Donahue was appointed Police Officer in 1954, Appointed Sergeant in 1968, and retired in 1979. Beth also had two Great Uncles that served with the Springfield Police Department. You might say the "Irish" Donahue's lived up to their name. Beth's Uncle retired as a Police Captain from the Xenia Police Department after 30 years of service. The Blue runs through the whole Donahue Family.
"It takes courage and dedication to fill the shoes of a Police officer. That is why SDVC needs to work with Law enforcement and find ways in which we can help each other...Find areas to mend, find areas to improve, and find areas to commend!"
