Victims of domestic violence offered added security through new program

Posted 9/25/14

The day-to-day work of two Warwick-based entities revolve around keeping people safe. The Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence (RICADV), now in its 35th year, has strived to help create …

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Victims of domestic violence offered added security through new program

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The day-to-day work of two Warwick-based entities revolve around keeping people safe. The Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence (RICADV), now in its 35th year, has strived to help create justice for victims and raise awareness on an issue that affects one in four women.

Three miles from the RICADV’s Post Road location is Alliance Security, which over the past 11 years has helped protect homeowners and their loved ones from “bad people” through the installation and monitoring of home security systems.

By year’s end, Alliance will reach a milestone of protecting 100,000 customers.

“The reality is that no matter how many homes we protect from intruders, a stranger isn’t the only person who could jeopardize safety,” Alliance COO Brian Fabiano said in a release. “Sometimes the people closest to us can cause harm.” 

For that reason, RICADV and Alliance are introducing the Friends of RICADV program to help individuals affected by domestic violence feel safer where they need it the most – their homes. Through the new program, victims of domestic violence are offered, for a year at no-cost, installation, professional monitoring, and maintenance of Alliance’s home alarm systems.

In order to participate, individuals must be a victim of domestic violence and referred by RICADV or one of its member agencies (Blackstone Valley Advocacy Center, Domestic Violence Resource Center of South County, Elizabeth Buffum Chase Center, Sojourner House, Sisters Overcoming Abusive Relationships, Women’s Center of RI, and Women’s Resource Center). During the initial phase of the program, focus will be placed on transitional apartments and homes operated by RICADV’s member agencies.

Friends of RICADV is the latest collaboration between the two partners, who first teamed up in December 2013.

“The fact that domestic violence touches so many people has infuriated us,” added Fabiano on the motivation behind his company’s ‘alliance’ with RICADV. “But we knew that resentment wasn’t enough and wanted to turn compassion into action, so we reached out to RICADV and simply asked how we can help.”

Earlier this year, Alliance made a $10,000 contribution in support of RICADV’s education and awareness efforts for Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month in February. However, the donation was not meant as “the be-all and end-all” of Alliance’s partnership with RICADV, according to Fabiano.

“We learned that the RICADV desired the same thing as us, and it wasn’t just us making a financial contribution and walking away,” he said.

During the past nine months, Alliance has made an effort to mobilize its employees to become active participants in the RICADV’s mission to eliminate domestic violence in the local community. Jay Gotra, Alliance’s CEO, has been actively involved in the RICADV’s TEN MEN campaign – through talks and participation in public service announcements, inviting all men across the Ocean State to proactively address domestic violence.

While Friends of RICADV is still in its pilot phase, Alliance’s long-term vision is to expand the program to other parts of the country; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recognizes domestic violence as “a public health epidemic.”

“We’re working with the RICADV to refine the protocol, feedback, and evaluation processes,” said Fabiano, who mentioned that Alliance’s customer-base currently spans across 35 states. “While we aren’t exactly sure yet as to when we’re going to expand this program, we look forward to focusing our attention on helping one person at a time in our home state.”

In addition to advocacy and awareness, the RICADV also supports, assists, and provides leadership to its member agencies.

“We commend Alliance Security for making an investment in the RICADV through both financial resources and employee engagement in the work required to end domestic violence. Our foremost goal is victim safety, and through this partnership, we are able to add yet another component to the critical safety net of services and precautions that must be in place for victims of abuse,” Deborah DeBare, executive director of the RICADV, said in a statement.

For more information about Alliance, visit www.alliancesecurity.com.

For more information about RICADV, visit www.ricadv.org. To learn more about Friends of RICADV, contact RICADV or one of its member agencies.

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