Healthy Advocate Initiative

Congratulations!

FCADV is excited to announce SafeSpace as the winner of the 2012 Healthy Advocate Challenge! The time and energy that its staff dedicated to self care is inspiring and we hope that the all participants found it a rewarding experience.

What is the Healthy Advocate Initiative? 

Domestic violence advocates play a significant role in supporting survivors in sustaining positive change in their lives, often at the cost of the advocates’ own self-care.  As advocates we frequently talk about self-care, but what does that look like for us? The balance between work, family and personal life often takes up all of our time. FCADV wants to shine the light on how essential it is to take a little time for ourselves in an eight-week multifaceted initiative.    

In 2009, 2011, and  2012 FCADV hosted a Healthy Advocate Initiative (HAI) to address this concern. It has included statewide efforts such as an institute, webinars, and online support. 

Each spring in this effort to support healthy advocates, FCADV hosts a multi-week Healthy Advocate Challenge. During this time FCADV encourages advocates at the certified domestic violence centers to do something positive for their health whether it is beginning or enhancing an exercise, program, choosing healthy meals and snacks, quitting smoking, improving financial health, or taking 30 minutes a day for yourself.

Advocates track their activities and submit the totals to FCADV. In 2012, the certified domestic violence center with the highest participation rate was awarded up to five (5) scholarships to the 2013 FCADV Biennial Statewide Training Institute or 2013 Rural Statewide Training Institute.*

*Participation rates were based on center staff size and hours of activity submitted to FCADV following the eight-week Healthy Advocate Challenge. Five (5) scholarships were awarded to the center with the highest participation rate. Scholarship amount were up to and no more than $200. Scholarship must be used for travel to the 2013 FCADV Biennial Statewide Training Institute or the 2013 Rural Statewide Training Institute. Event attendee must travel more than fifty (50) miles to use this scholarship award.