Join the Teen Advocates!

Domestic and Sexual Violence Services and Neighborhood and Community Services are recruiting for this year's cohort of Teen Advocates! This program is for teens ages 12-19 who are eager to build leadership skills and passionate about promoting healthy relationships and consent. For an application, contact Debra Miller or click here.
From the Headlines: High-Profile Sex Trafficking Sentences Raise Awareness about Local Cases
While high-profile, sex trafficking court cases, such as those of Ghislaine Maxwell and Robert "R. Kelly" Kelly, receive national attention, issues of sexual violence and human trafficking are much closer to our communities than many realize. The media attention also can trigger survivors, bringing up reminders of past trauma. Learn how Domestic and Sexual Violence Services supports survivors of sexual violence, exploitation, human trafficking, and domestic violence.
Title IX Turns 50
Title IX of the U.S. Education Amendments of 1972 (aka, Title IX) is a federal law in the United States prohibiting any publicly funded school or university from practicing discrimination on the basis of sex or gender in all school activities. Title IX has brought significant changes to how all publicly funded schools address sexual and gender-based violence and harassment for the last 50 years. This is what Title IX looks like in Fairfax County.
Gun Violence Awareness Day
Gun Violence Awareness Day
Friday, June 3, 2022
The Department of Family Services Domestic and Sexual Violence Services division supports policies to remove firearms from potentially deadly situations. It’s the law: Gun owners in Virginia who have been served a final protective order must surrender their firearms. (We encourage taking it to the Sheriff’s office 703-246-4405). By doing so, victims, their families, and our communities are safer. To learn more about the intersection of guns and domestic violence, call the Domestic and Sexual Violence 24-Hour Hotline at 703-360-7273.
Pronouns: Why Do They Matter?

Language matters. Language is a tool that helps us convey meaning and connect. We use words to communicate, characterize, and describe everything around us. Nothing may be more personal than the words people use to refer to us through our names and pronouns, which represent key elements of our identity.
We use pronouns and names frequently in our everyday written and verbal communication. Most of us have learned from a young age to use “she/her” for girls and “he/him” for boys. As our society has progressed in understanding gender identity, our language has also evolved. Learn how to model the use of pronouns and why this practice shows respect.
How to Respond When Someone Discloses a Sexual Assault
Sexual assault is a traumatic and life-changing experience and telling someone about it is frightening. A sexual assault survivor’s physical injuries may not always be substantial, but unseen psychological and emotional injuries may be severe. You do not need to be an expert in this area, but how you respond to disclosure is critical to a survivor’s well-being and recovery.
County Conversation: Teen Dating Violence and Stalking
Debra Miller, youth education and outreach specialist, discussed teens, stalking, and healthy relationship initiatives in the Domestic and Sexual Violence Services division on the County Conversation podcast with host Jim Person.
Fairfax County’s Red Flag Law Encourages People to Speak Up: Prevent a Gun Tragedy
On Monday, Dec. 13, 2021, county and community leaders, including Domestic and Sexual Violence Services’ Angela Yeboah, shared information and impactful stories of the Red Flag Law’s use to prevent gun violence and issued a call-to-action for the community to contact authorities who can act quickly to prevent tragedies. Check out this video to learn more.
Hope Cards Now Offered in Fairfax County

Fairfax County now participates in the Hope Card program, a way to enforce a civil protective order and a handy resource for victims of family abuse. A Hope Card is a laminated wallet-sized card that contains all the essential information of an existing, permanent civil protection order.
Hope Cards have been around for a while but they're a new resource in Fairfax County for victims of family violence, intimate partner violence, stalking or sexual assault. The Hope Card can reduce the time on scene for officers responding to incidents of protection order violations, allow officers to verify if there is a valid protective order in place and can provide a sense of security to victims. It also helps keep officers safer by informing law enforcement about weapons involved in the incident resulting in a protective order. Learn more about the Hope Card.
County Conversation: Domestic and Sexual Violence Services Counseling Services
Chris Davies, counseling services supervisor, discussed counseling services in the Domestic and Sexual Violence Services division on the County Conversation podcast with host Jim Person.
Talking About It Matters: Domestic Violence in the LGBTQ+ Community
Though it might not be clear from mainstream media, domestic violence is not limited to heterosexual relationships and can affect individuals of all sexual orientations and genders.
In fact, recent research shows intimate partner violence within the LGBTQ+ community occurs at a rate equal to or even higher than that of members of the heterosexual community.
Learn more about domestic violence in the LGBTQ+ community or call the Domestic and Sexual Violence 24-Hour Hotline 703-360-7273.
Video: Domestic and Sexual Violence Services Supports Victims of Gender-Based Violence
Domestic violence and sexual violence are two separate issues and how they are addressed is different, too. Learn more about how the Department of Family Services’ Domestic and Sexual Violence Services division supports survivors of all forms of gender-based violence.
Note: This video contains images that may be disturbing or triggering.
Learn about sexual assault, domestic violence and how Domestic and Sexual Violence Services supports survivors. Get information about DSVS resources by calling the Domestic and Sexual Violence 24-Hour Hotline 703-360-7273.
The Intersection of Gender-Based Violence and Economics
Ending gender-based violence requires us to see all the aspects of the issue. Often, when we think of intimate partner violence, we envision only bruises or broken bones—things we can see—or perhaps verbal abuse. But domestic violence takes many forms, including financial abuse, a subject that is often overlooked.
The truth is personal safety and economic security are inextricably linked for victims of domestic violence. Research from the Centers for Financial Security shows financial abuse is present in 99 percent of domestic violence cases. Learn more about the intersection of domestic violence and financial abuse, call the Domestic and Sexual Violence 24-Hotline 703-360-7273.