In May 1995, the Rockdale County Community Task Force on Family Violence was created in a response to the growing concern for the safety of victims and the community as a whole.  The task force originally provided a solution to the Georgia Commission on Family request for communities to develop a comprehensive and coordinated plan to end family violence.

For approximately ten years, the task force worked to offer law enforcement officers in-service training, implemented services offered to victims via the local battered women.s shelter and victim assistance program, specialized prosecution, as well as worked with service providers to assist victims, children and perpetrators.  The task force made strides to incorporate new laws in the standard operating procedures within the Conyers-Rockdale County criminal justice system.  Aside from law enforcement, the task force continued to work at providing an infrastructure to bridge the gap of services for all family members with services that include certified batterer intervention programs, free counseling for victims and children to supervised visitation programs.

In January 2006, it was determined that the task force had become inactive due to infrequent meetings and lack of progress.  After an assessment, it was established that the inactive task force should be abolished with a process in place to establish a new task force with new goals and objectives.

The new Rockdale County Task Force on Family Violence was created in May 2006.  This task force has a sitting judge, Nancy N. Bills, serving as Chairperson.  The initial goals of the task force included obtaining funding from various government entities and grants in order to utilize professional services to increase efficiency in the areas of protocol, service gaps, and public awareness.

The new mission statement of the task force is: The Mission of the Rockdale County Task Force on Family Violence is to end family violence in the lives of adults and children in Rockdale County, Georgia, by changing the attitudes and systems, which prevent meaningful improvements and resolution of this chronic community problem by a lack of a unified approach.

Now entering the second year, the task force has:

• Implemented successful public awareness campaigns to educate the general public about the totality of violence

• Begun finalizing drafts of protocols,

• Provided training seminars to law enforcement, the task force, and the faith-based community, and

• Received additional funding to address the issue of substance abuse in regard to violence.

In addition, the membership on the task force has increased.  An average number of attendees that a task force has participating is approximately 10.  The Rockdale County Task Force Against Domestic Violence has approximately 25 or more people in attendance at every meeting with more than 60 active individuals on the roster.

Hopefully, one day the services of the task force will not be required.  This will be achieved when victims .Break the Silence and Stop Family Violence..  With this, the goal of homicide prevention will be achieved.

Read More below to see our Mission Statement and Common Goals.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Rockdale County Task Force on Family Violence is to end family violence in the lives of adults and children in Rockdale County, Georgia, by changing attitudes and systems that prevent meaningful improvements and resolutions of this chronic community problem by a lack of a unified approach.

Task Force Goals

Implement a coordinated community response to family violence to:

• Prevent family violence,

• Protect the victims of family violence, and

• Educate victims, perpetrators, and the community on family violence and issues related to family violence and its effects on our community.

Task Force Board of Directors

Judge Nancy Bills, Chairperson
Leesa Puckett, Vice Chairperson
John Manget, Secretary

Task Force Committees

Public Awareness Committee, William Campbell, Chair

The Public Awareness Committee:

• Develops and organizes short-term projects of interest to the entire Task Force and community,

• Develops, coordinates and promotes education activities designed to advance the mission and goals of the Task Force.

Healthcare Committee, Janice Morris, Chair

The Healthcare Committee Committee:

• Develops and builds a consensus among practitioners in the community including, but not limited to, hospital staff, physicians, nurses, and mental health clinicians for implementing procedures to meet and advance the mission and goals of the Task Force.

Criminal Justice Committee, Debra Sullivan, Chair

The Criminal Justice Committee:

• Develops and builds a consensus among practitioners in the community including, but not limited to, law enforcement, judges, and prosecutors for implementing procedures to meet and advance the mission and goals of the Task Force.

Services Committee

The Services Committee:

• Evaluates and improves the response of services to meet the needs of family violence victims.

Volunteering

The Rockdale County Task Force Against Family Violence is always seeking the support and involvement of individuals and organizations that share our mission to end family violence in the lives of adults and children in Rockdale County, Georgia, by changing attitudes and systems that prevent meaningful improvements and resolutions of this chronic community problem by a lack of a unified approach.

If you are interested in being a member of the Rockdale County Task Force Against Family Violence or supporting one of our initiatives, please contact us.  Click on the Contact Us link and complete the information requested.

A Task Force representative will contact you promptly. Thank you for your participation.