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History
The 1970's
1975
The Women's Coalition in Milwaukee formed the Task Force on Battered Women.
1976
The Task Force held the first state conference on domestic violence and the first national conference for battered women's advocates. Over 200 people attended from Wisconsin and other states.
1977
A meeting was held in Stevens Point to organize and network after Community Action had received a CETA grant to provide services to battered women. In Stevens Point the group put together a list of persons they knew to be working on domestic violence in Wisconsin.
The Wisconsin Coalition Against Woman Abuse (WCAWA) was formed by advocates throughout the state and incorporated in 1978.
1978
The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) was formed.
WCAWA had 42 members from 17 programs each paying $10 in annual dues. Through the 1980's WCAWA worked closely with Wisconsin NOW, the Wisconsin Women's Network, and the YWCA to organize crisis lines and safe home networks for battered women and their children.
1979
The Domestic Abuse Prevention Council (DAPC) formed in Eau Claire. They felt that WCAWA did not properly serve rural groups and was led by "radical lesbian feminists."
A commission was formed with members of WCAWA and DAPC to decide how the groups would work together on designing services and how to apply for state funds.
The 1980's
1980
DAPC had a total of 12 member programs each paying $500/year for full service membership or $125/year for supporting membership with limited services.
February 20, 1980
After two and a half years of lobbying by WCAWA and DV advocates, Governor Dreyfus signed into law the first domestic violence legislation. Chapter 111 created legal options (DV restraining orders and injunctions), formed the Governor's Council on Domestic Violence, and created a $1 million appropriation for DV grants. Chapter 111 defined domestic violence as violence between spouses or former spouses only.
1981
WCAWA held a retreat for all programs in the state. At the retreat, Cheri Maples, WCAWA's first employee and administrator, made a successful appeal for all groups to join together under WCAWA.
WCAWA focused on developing services for battered women by providing education and technical assistance to programs.
Wisconsin had 33 domestic violence programs and 14 shelters; 23 programs were awarded $1 million in grants by the WI Department of Health and Social Services (now WI Department of Health and Family Services (DHFS).
Governor Dreyfus declared a week in October as Domestic Violence Awareness week and NCADV declared a National Day of Unity for Battered Women during that week.
WCAWA co-sponsored the NCADV Region V conference with over 1,000 people attending from 48 states.
The by-laws of WCAWA were revised to replace the regional meeting format with bi-monthly meetings. The new membership categories of organizational members, supportive organization and individual members were created. Dues changed to a sliding membership fee from $25 to $200 based on the budget of the agency.
1982
719 shelters were affiliated with NCADV.
WCAWA coordinated trainings for 25 district attorneys and provided two workshops for law enforcement officers.
By November WCAWA was facing a deficit of $2,000 and the staff was working without pay. Simultaneously, NCADV was asking for help with its $28,000 deficit.
1983
WCAWA offered eight workshops, developed a rural task force and a children's task force, continued to organize the bi-monthly meetings, informational newsletters, and advocated for changes in legislation.
The membership of WCAWA increased by 20% and sustaining membership increased by 23%.
New by-laws included a structure for a Board of Directors.
The Domestic Abuse Trailer Bill passed the State Assembly. It changed the definition of DV "to include all women, regardless of their marital status, sexual preference or whether or not they have children."
1984
Federal funding for domestic abuse programs was established: Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) in the US Department of Health and Human Services.
25% of the new FVPSA funds supplemented state GPR dollars in the state domestic abuse grant program for local programs; the remainder was used for three new grant initiatives: * A statewide model for criminal justice intervention, received by WCAWA to establish a Community Coordinated Response to Domestic Abuse (CCRDA) demonstration project. * Second stage services, such as housing, employment training, etc. * The development of children's services.
The Coalition held a two-day conference titled "Building our Movement: Knowledge, Diversity, Strength."
1985 - 1987
WCAWA increased its membership and doubled its staff.
1986
WCAWA changed its name to the Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence (WCADV), in order to conform with the national trend.
1987
The CCRDA grant ended and the Coalition was again in financial crisis.
1989
Bonnie Brandl was hired as the WCADV Administrator.
The 1990's
1991
DHFS provided funds for WCADV to undertake strategic planning.
1992
WCADV restructured; the Coalition moved away from its collective structure and hired Brandl as the first executive director.
1994
Brandl resigned; Mary Lauby was hired as executive director. WCADV had three staff.
National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) was created.
WCADV and WCASA worked with WI Department of Justice (DOJ) and WI Office of Justice Assistance (OJA) to develop the first plan for Wisconsin's implementation of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). The Administration on Aging awarded a federal grant to WCADV for abuse in later life program development.
WCADV established a legal grant program to award funds to assist with legal representation for victims by private bar attorneys.
1995
Tess Meuer hired as first staff attorney.
Clemency Project was established; through 1999 it worked for the release of three victims of domestic violence who killed their batterers while defending themselves.
The WCADV Communities of Color project was established to support the efforts of diverse communities to address the problem of domestic violence within their own communities; the first Outreach Coordinator was hired.
1996
The WCADV board was comprised of over 50% people of color and formerly battered women; this continues today.
The WCADV Law School Externship Program was established with the University of Wisconsin Law School.
1997
The first WCADV Leadership Institute for People of Color was organized.
WCADV received funding from OJA for a part time position to provide technical assistance to existing and emerging domestic violence, sexual assault and elder abuse CCRs throughout the state.
1998
Technical Assistance for Children's' Programs was established at WCADV.
WCADV established its African American Planning Project.
1999
The WCADV office moved from East Washington Avenue to Paterson Street.
WCADV held the 21st Anniversary Conference: One Cause/Many Voices.
The Wausau office opened; Diane Wolff was hired as the Rural TA Project Coordinator and three TA staff were hired to provide on-site technical assistance for rural programs.
The Wisconsin Batterers Treatment Provider Association was established under the WCADV umbrella.
WCADV established the National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life (NCALL), with funds from the Violence Against Women Office (VAWO), to serve as a national TA provider.
The 2000's
At the request of the governor's office, WCADV investigated the possibility of managing the state domestic abuse grant program; membership opinion is divided.
The WCADV Immigration Project was established; Ramona Natera was hired as the first Immigration Attorney.
The Wisconsin Women's Health Foundation secured funding to develop a domestic violence public service announcement movie trailer to be viewed in movie theaters.
2001
The WCADV Health Care Project was established; WCADV was selected as one of 15 states by Family Violence Prevention Fund for participation in National Health Care Standards Campaign.
Lauby was elected chair of the board of NNEDV.
2002
The WCADV Prevention Project was established; WCADV was selected as one of nine states to participate with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in a national collaboration to develop domestic violence prevention protocols.
Lauby was appointed by US Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson to the National Advisory Committee on Violence Against Women.
The First Domestic Violence Homicide Report was released.
Lauby was appointed by WI Commissioner of Insurance to the Oversight and Advisory Committee (OAC) of the UW Medical School. The OAC is charged with responsibility for development of a plan for use of Blue Cross/Blue Shield stock proceeds for population health.
2003
WCADV launches website.
The 25th Anniversary Conference, IMAGINE, took place in September-October, bringing in 40 national speakers.
2005
Diane Wolff becomes Interim Director
2006
Patti Seger becomes Executive Director
Click here to see more extensive histories of the Battered Women's Movement on the VAWnet website.