PUBLIC POLICY, RESEARCH,
& ADVOCACY
Feeling physically, mentally, and emotionally safe is a basic human right. Because violence affects the health and well-being of entire communities, we work to prevent and address sexual assault and domestic abuse through strong public policy, trauma-informed research, and survivor-centered advocacy to create a safer Iowa for all.
PUBLIC POLICY
Violence Free Iowa leads and supports 25 sexual and domestic violence victim service providers supporting survivors in every Iowa county. Sexual assault and domestic abuse remain preventable but persistent public health problems with epidemic levels of prevalence. Violence Free Iowa is committed to advancing policies to address the urgent needs of survivors, supporting increased funding for victim services to ensure statewide access to support, and promoting comprehensive responses to sexual and domestic violence and effective solutions for ending and preventing it.
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We engage our membership and Iowa communities in advocacy efforts to promote positive public policy change through education and outreach to legislators. We provide input on legislation to Iowa state legislators and to Iowa’s U.S. Congressional delegation. We also comment on government agency policies and participate in working groups addressing issues impacting sexual assault and domestic violence survivors.
RESEARCH AND REPORTING
Violence Free Iowa is committed to advancing safety and accountability through research and reporting. By examining patterns, documenting the impact of sexual assault and domestic abuse, and highlighting contributing factors, we are able to call attention to the far-reaching impact of gender-based violence on individuals, families, and communities – helping to shape solutions
for lasting change.
REPORTS​​​​
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON RESEARCH AND REPORTING, CONTACT DR. RUXANDRA MARCU, CHIEF IMPACT OFFICER, AT (515) 244-8028 OR ruxandra@icadv.org.
ADVOCACY
WHAT IS ADVOCACY
AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
Advocacy is any action that speaks in favor of, recommends, argues for a cause, supports, defends, or pleads on behalf of others. There are multiple advocacy strategies for engaging and building relationships with policymakers, enlisting strategic allies, and mobilizing key stakeholders. Advocacy often involves educating policymakers, stakeholders (e.g., individuals, communities, and/or organizations), the public, media, etc., on unmet needs and/or the impact of policy decisions.
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Advocacy helps ensure that decisions on public policies are made with a thorough understanding of how they will affect the people and communities they impact. Elected officials and other policymakers make important decisions that affect the quality of our lives and our communities, including how our tax dollars are spent, how systems and communities respond to violence, and how people’s basic needs are met.
It is important that our team engage with legislators to help make important issues part of public policy discussions.