Mission

The mission of the Oklahoma Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault is to organize and mobilize member programs to prevent and eliminate sexual and domestic violence and stalking in the State of Oklahoma and in Indian Country.

Commitment to Diversity

The diversity goal of the Oklahoma Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault is to fully understand and value diversity in its membership, employees, service participants, and other constituencies, and to integrate this appreciation in the Coalition’s values, vision, mission, culture, policies, and practices.

OCADVSA is committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive environment in which everyone, including membership, service participants, constituents, and staff feel valued and in which organizational goals are being met.

We value individual and group differences and will create and maintain a climate that affirms diversity of persons as well as diversity of views. We will maintain an atmosphere of respect and trust in with each individual feels free and safe to communicate openly. Unity of the Coalition will be accomplished only with the inclusion of each individual, whether member, service participant, constituent, or staff.

We will encourage full participation by membership, employees, service participants, and constituents, both in principle and practice regardless of culture, ethnicity, race, gender, nationality, age, religious and political beliefs, physical and mental abilities, sexual/affectional orientation, education, experiences, opinions, and beliefs.

We challenge the use of disrespectful, stereotypical, and any other hurtful characterizations and are committed to working toward the recognition and elimination of prejudice and discrimination, in any form, against any person, and to creating and maintaining an environment where everyone is respected, welcomed, and appreciated.

For Tia team in meeting

History Timeline

1974

  • The first domestic violence services are provided in Oklahoma by the YWCA-OKC.

1979

  • The Oklahoma Coalition on Domestic Violence is formed, and the first shelter for battered women opens on March 5, 1979, in Enid, OK.

1981

  • The Oklahoma Coalition on Domestic Violence is fully incorporated.

1986

  • Police officers in Oklahoma are granted the power to make an arrest without a warrant if the officer has probably cause to believe the person in question has committed an act of domestic abuse within the last 4 hours.

1990

  • The coalition’s name is officially changed to the Oklahoma Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault.

1994

  • The Violence Against Women Act is passed by congress and passed into law by President Bill Clinton.

2000

  • Victim Services are moved under the authority of the Oklahoma Attorney General with the help of OCADVSA’s lobbying efforts.
  • The Violence Against Women Act is reauthorized by President George W. Bush with new funding that allowed state, tribal, and territorial agencies to fund transitional housing and legal assistance for victims and services for rural areas.

2005

  • The Violence Against Women Act is reauthorized by President George W Bush again with continued funding and expanded its initial mandate to address not only domestic violence but sexual assault and stalking as well, and specifically takes into account, the needs of underserved populations. It continued to improve upon the laws by providing an increased focus on access to services for communities of color, immigrant women, and tribal and Native communities. New programs under VAWA 2005 include the Court Trainings and Improvements, Child Witness, and Culturally Specific programs.

2017

  • OCADVSA restructures its Board of Directors to created elected board positions, ensuring fresh voices and perspectives within the organization for the future.

2020

  • Oklahoma Domestic Violence reports reach 20-year high with 27,089 abuses perpetrated in the State. In November, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt signed House Bill 3251 which expanded the definition of violent crime to include domestic abuse by strangulation, domestic assault with a dangerous weapon, domestic assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, or domestic assault and battery with a deadly weapon.

2022

  • The Violence Against Women Act is reauthorized by President Joseph R Biden II again with continued funding through FY2027 for programs and activities that seek to prevent and respond to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking. The bill also authorizes new programs, makes changes to federal criminal laws, and establishes new protections to promote housing stability and economic security for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking.