Mission. Work. Vision.

Our Mission

Our mission is to provide leadership and support in the identification, intervention and prevention of domestic and sexual violence.

Our Work

• We provide support, tools and resources to local crisis intervention centers working with victims and their families

• Coordinate annual public awareness events

• Educate and train professionals and advocates on the issues of sexual and domestic violence

• Provide information and resources to the general public regarding domestic and sexual violence

• Build institutional partnerships and shape public policy

• Promote healthy relationships and nonviolence through prevention

Our Vision

• Offer accessible survivor centered services

• Develop community based solutions to respond and prevent domestic and sexual violence

• Provide diverse and sustainable resources for services

• Maintain a unified, consistent message promoting safety for victims and nonviolent relationships

Our History

The North Dakota Council on Abused Women’s Services (NDCAWS) began 1978 as an informal group of five crisis intervention centers organized across the state of North Dakota to provide shelter and advocacy to battered women – very similar to how the battered women’s movement began across the country. The year 1979 was critical, solidifying a statewide coalition through the passage of the state’s first domestic violence protection order statute. In June of 1980, the coalition was incorporated in the State of North Dakota. In 1981, a director was hired through the federal Law Enforcement Assistance Administration grant. The work of these pioneering women is represented in our logo today by purple petals.

The Coalition Against Sexual Assault in North Dakota (CASAND) was formed because of a need for statewide networking, information sharing, training and education, identifying needs of victims and legislation related to sexual assault. The teal petals in our logo represent the work of CASAND.

In 1992, NDCAWS began working closely with rape crisis service providers through the North Dakota Task Force on Coordinated Services. NDCAWS merged with CASAND, joining the efforts of local domestic and sexual violence services. This relationship is represented by the blended colors of the petals in the center. The three different colors also represent the strategic core values of identification, intervention and prevention.

The six petals of advocacy in our logo stand for hope, respect and validation, confidentiality, connection, information and boundaries. In 2012, in order to create a more unique presence and expand outreach, CAWS North Dakota formally changed our name and our logo to truly represent our mission. CAWS North Dakota continues to seek legislation, policy, and systems changes to promote victim safety and offender accountability.

SAFETY ALERT: If you are in danger, please use a safer computer, call 911, a local hotline, the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 or the U.S. National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.Escape
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