Eastern Shore Launches First Coordinated Community Response Team to address sexual and domestic violence

On Wednesday, September 17, 2025, more than 75 Eastern Shore residents—representing law enforcement, healthcare, housing, social services, faith organizations, and community groups—gathered at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Onancock for a landmark meeting hosted by the Eastern Shore Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ESCADV).
The event marked the launch of the Shore’s first Coordinated Community Response Team (CCRT), a collaborative initiative designed to strengthen local systems, ensure survivor safety, hold abusers accountable, and prevent sexual and domestic violence.

“The mission of the CCRT is to bring services within the community together to ensure that our systems are truly keeping survivors safe, holding abusers accountable, and preventing domestic and sexual violence,” said Kayla Gray, Interim Executive Director of ESCADV. “It is a whole-system response with survivors at the center—survivors are actively involved and helping to lead the effort.”

ESCADV has outlined a two-pronged approach for the new initiative: The Coordinated Community Response Task Force – This group, composed of representatives from all participating organizations, will examine policies, identify service gaps, and ensure no practices revictimize survivors. Survivors themselves will play a leadership role in shaping this work.

The Hope Network – A 100% volunteer-based arm of the effort, inspired by ESCADV’s roots as a grassroots coalition. Members will dedicate their time and talents to supporting survivors and, when needed, filling service gaps that cannot be met by existing agencies.

“The issues of sexual and domestic violence are complex and require responses from many sectors and agencies,” said Susan Mariner, ESCADV Sexual Assault Survivors Advocate. “We look forward to strengthening our ties with our community partners. Together, we will identify gaps between services and address them through the CCR Task Force and Hope Network.”

Community leaders voiced strong support for the new initiative. “This was a wonderful event, and we’re pleased to be collaborating with other agencies in this important effort,” commented Juan Gomez of Eastern Shore Rural Health.

Cheriton Baptist Church representative Patty Ferguson noted, “This coordinated effort is exactly what our community needs to ensure survivors are not left to navigate these challenges alone.”

ESCADV plans to host additional CCRT gatherings in the coming months as the Task Force and Hope Network continue to build momentum.

For more information, please contact ESCADV at (757) 787-1329 or visit http://www.escadv.org. To become part of the Hope Network volunteer organization, please reach out to Evelyn Fisher at (757) 894-7189.