UT College of Social Work (UTCSW), UT College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences (CEHHS), and the Knoxville Family Justice Center (KFJC) partnered to lead the community in recognizing October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) 2025 through a powerful lineup of events, outreach initiatives, and a renewed focus on survivor-centered care.
Although emphasized in October, UTCSW Assistant Professor Kristen Ravi and CEHHS Associate Professor Megan Haselschwerdt work closely with the KFJC year-round to empower individuals to make informed choices about their recovery in a safe and supportive environment. A recent Domestic Violence Awareness Mini-Conference was the latest milestone in a multi-year collaboration between the KFJC, the University of Tennessee, and community partners, which began with a thorough needs assessment to better understand the training and service gaps within Knoxville. This collaborative research effort shaped both the content and structure of the conference, ensuring that the topics presented reflect real-world needs identified by survivors and service providers.
The purpose of the needs assessment was to evaluate the current state of domestic violence (DV) services in Knox County with the primary goal of identifying experiences, barriers, and needs among Knox County DV victims, identifying underserved client populations and unmet client needs, and continuing the education needs of DV professionals and non-DV professionals.
“Findings from the needs assessment highlighted the strengths of DV services in Knox County,” Haselschwerdt noted. “This included the collaboration among various agencies working together to address DV in Knox County and the community awareness-raising events.”
While existing collaboration and outreach were recognized as notable strengths, victims and service providers face numerous challenges, and underserved populations continue to encounter disproportionate barriers to support. Providers expressed a strong interest in more robust and accessible training. By acting on these findings and recommendations, service providers can strengthen their impact, enhance coordination, and build a more survivor-centered and equitable DV prevention and response system. Structural barriers such as limited funding, staffing shortages, and a lack of multilingual services constrain providers’ ability to respond effectively.
The full assessment is available at:
https://www.fjcknoxville.org/wp-content/uploads/KJFC_Needs_9.24.pdf
“This partnership is so powerful, and it couldn’t have come at a better time,” Michelle Clayton, Executive Director of the Knoxville Family Justice Center, said. “It really captures the heart of what we’re trying to do together: lead with compassion, focus on survivors, and show what real collaboration looks like. At a time when things feel heavy, this reminder of shared purpose means a lot. It gives hope and energy to keep pushing forward. I’m so proud of what we’re building with the University of Tennessee and grateful for everyone who helped make this happen.”
As a collaborative, multi-agency hub offering comprehensive support to victims of domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault, elder abuse, and human trafficking, the KFJC is a “one-stop shop” approach to empowering individuals to make informed choices about their recovery in a safe and supportive environment. By co-locating services from law enforcement, legal aid, and nonprofit organizations under one roof, the KFJC streamlines access to critical resources, reducing the need for victims to navigate multiple agencies.
“Working with the Knoxville Family Justice Center and seeing the needs assessment come to fruition has been invaluable in helping to shape a more effective response to domestic violence,” Ravi said. “It is our hope that the assessment can serve as a meaningful tool to enhance support systems for both survivors and service providers in Knox County.”