About EDVP: Mission

Our mission is to end domestic violence by changing individual, institutional and societal beliefs, attitudes and behaviors that perpetuate it. To achieve this we will work with the community to:

PROVIDE services in East and North King County to people, primarily women and children, who have experienced physical, emotional or sexual abuse;

PREVENT domestic violence through advocacy, education and support.

Since 1982 Eastside Domestic Violence Program (EDVP) has provided safety, support and accessibility to an estimated 78,000 victims and their children. EDVP believes that domestic violence will end only when individuals, institutions and society as a whole join together to demand an end to abuse. EDVP supports a comprehensive, coordinated response to domestic violence by working together with systems, organizations, community groups and individuals to end domestic violence.

Values and Philosophy

WE VALUE SAFETY. We believe all individuals (adults and children) have a right to emotional and physical safety. We oppose the use of threats, intimidation and violence to create and maintain control.
WE VALUE CONFIDENTIALITY. We believe victims of abuse have a right to confidentiality. We provide services at confidential and safe locations and honor each individual’s right to seek and receive support confidentially.

WE VALUE EMPOWERMENT. We value individuals’ ability to make their own choices and support their journey to freedom. We provide nonjudgmental services and information that validate and support the empowerment of individuals to free themselves from abuse.
WE VALUE JUSTICE. We recognize that oppression exists which is based on race, sex, age, culture, socioeconomic class, religion, ethnicity, language, literacy, educational background, sexual orientation and disability. We oppose oppression and its expression in physical, sexual, psychological and emotional violence, which is used as a means to control others. We believe oppression in all of its forms is destructive and should not be tolerated.
WE VALUE EQUALITY. We are a feminist-based organization, which means that we advocate the same rights and opportunities be granted to women as are granted to men. We support the equal distribution of power and privilege throughout society.
WE VALUE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSIVENESS. We are committed to an organizational structure which reflects diversity, mutual respect for individual differences, equality, accessibility, participatory decision-making, and collective responsibility among members of boards, paid staff, volunteer staff and survivors of abusive relationships.

We are committed to making our services available to all parts of our community. We do not discriminate in employment, procurement or the provision of services on the basis of differences, including race, color, sex, marital status, political ideology, age, class, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, national origin or disability.
WE VALUE COLLABORATION. We acknowledge that the issue of domestic violence demands a comprehensive, coordinated response. We work in coalition with systems, organizations, community groups and individuals to promote supportive advocacy and education. We believe that domestic violence will end only when individuals, institutions and society as a whole work together to demand an end to abuse.
WE VALUE ACCOUNTABILITY. We believe abusers must be held accountable for their behaviors. We believe that domestic violence is a public issue and not just a private matter. We believe individuals, institutions and society as a whole must take responsibility for eliminating domestic violence.