The Pitt School of Social Work is excited to announce a new grant-funded partnership with the Office of Gender-Based Violence at Arizona State University to expand Survivor Link through the Public Health AmeriCorps program.
In the fall, Pitt will be one of 14 universities across 11 states working to improve the public health response to intimate partner violence by building capacity among community agencies.
Students from Pitt School of Social Work will join a cohort of 99 Survivor Link + Public Health AmeriCorps service members from across the U.S.
Survivor Link + Public Health AmeriCorps members will work closely with intimate partner violence experts to build capacity in public health agencies to improve knowledge about domestic violence and the use of evidence-based interventions for survivors.
Associate Professor Sara Goodkind will manage the program, which will include funding for 9 field placements at local non-profits, training, and networking nationwide with other social work students dedicated to disrupting gender-based violence.
Survivor Link + Public Health AmeriCorps will build capacity in public health agencies to respond to domestic violence in their local communities so that they can provide sustained and effective intimate partner violence services. The program will also provide future social workers with pathways to public health related careers. Survivor Link will make a contribution to public health across the U.S. by improving services and interventions for survivors and training the next generation of social workers to respond to domestic violence.
Survivor Link was established as an AmeriCorps program in 2015 and has grown from one program locally in Arizona to three programs with a national presence. Survivor Link has trained 445 AmeriCorps members as domestic violence advocates in Arizona and Survivor Link members have earned over $1.2 million in scholarships. More information on Survivor Link can be found here (and will be updated with Public Health AmeriCorps information soon!)
Public Health AmeriCorps is a collaboration between the CDC and the Corporation for National and Community Service, investing $400 million over 5 years with the aim of meeting public health needs of communities and advancing more equitable health outcomes for socially vulnerable groups. More information can be found about Public Health AmeriCorps here.