LIADV: We Can and Do Make a Difference in Our Corner of the World

National Domestic Violence Hotline

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, available 24/7, for confidential assistance from a trained advocate.

You can also find more resources on legal assistance in English and Spanish at WomensLaw.org.

From the time I was a child, I have rooted for the underdog. I have always had a zero-tolerance policy for any and all discrimination, injustice, and bullying. As I got older, the notion of anyone living in fear of and being terrorized by someone who is supposed to love and care for them was unfathomable.

Twenty-two years ago, I found my calling. Since then, I have dedicated my career to working with and on behalf of survivors of intimate partner violence. I’ve been with Long Island Against Domestic Violence (LIADV) ever since. I’ve held various roles within the organization, and I am now the Executive Director. 

Advocacy will always be my first love. I spend much of my time working with our Court and Precinct Advocacy services. I also coordinate our efforts with local law enforcement and the court system. I also provide technical support for our Safe Harbor Shelter. I have no problem answering our 24-hour hotline or taking calls from advocacy clients, cleaning the office kitchen, and whatever else is needed!

“We might be a small organization on Long Island, but we can and do make a difference in our corner of the world.”

—Wendy Linsalata, Executive Director of Long Island Against Domestic Violence

At LIADV, we do everything in our power to bring safety, support, and healing to survivors. We strive to:

• Be a nonjudgmental listening ear for domestic violence survivors;
• Help survivors embark on their journey to safety and self-sufficiency; and
• Work within the system to ensure we are providing effective, quality services.

Many years ago, we recognized the intersection between animal cruelty and intimate partner violence. It has been a long-term vision of mine to provide shelter for survivors of intimate partner violence and their companion animals. I also wanted our advocacy and hotline team to routinely screen for any animal abuse, neglect, or concern for a pet’s safety.

We expanded our Safe Harbor Shelter about six years ago to bring my vision to fruition. We are now the only domestic violence survivor service provider in the region to accept companion animals into our shelter. This keeps the animal safe, keeps the family unit intact, and aids in the healing process.

LIADV has long recognized the nexus between intimate partner violence and gun violence. Preventative efforts go hand-in-hand with the education and services LIADV provides. We received a grant from the Everytown Support Fund Domestic Violence Grant Program in Fiscal Year 2024 to enhance our outreach efforts around this issue. I am very grateful for this support and hope to continue working together for many years.

The funding is helping us revamp our website. The updated site will highlight information about the connection between gun violence and intimate partner violence. Everytown has been an invaluable resource for us. The grant program helps guide the work we are doing to increase awareness of the increased risk of lethal outcomes for those in abusive relationships where the abuser also has access to guns.

For years, LIADV has worked tirelessly to assess risk levels and address safety concerns for domestic violence survivors. In some of these cases, domestic violence restraining orders are issued for protection. We leverage our partnership with local law enforcement to help ensure that firearms are removed under these orders, which prohibit abusers from purchasing or possessing firearms.

The U.S. v. Rahimi Supreme Court decision in June 2024 played a very significant role in this work. The decision upheld the federal law prohibiting domestic abusers subject to a domestic violence restraining order from purchasing or possessing firearms. We are grateful that the Court recognized the high risk of a lethal outcome when abusers have firearms. Because the law was upheld, LIADV and its partners and law enforcement can continue partnering in our efforts to help remove guns from those with dangerous histories.

“Everytown has been an invaluable resource for us. The grant program helps guide the work we are doing to increase awareness of the increased risk of lethal outcomes for those in abusive relationships where the abuser also has access to guns.”

—Wendy Linsalata, Executive Director of Long Island Against Domestic Violence

At LIADV, we work with our law enforcement partners in various areas throughout the year. We used some of the Everytown grant funds to host a workshop with these partners during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. We talked about the dangers of the presence of firearms in a relationship where any type of abuse is taking place. The workshop also included information on secure gun storage and Extreme Risk Protection Orders. 

During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, LIADV spends a lot of time developing awareness campaigns, activities for the community to engage in, and opportunities to start discussions around domestic violence prevention. This is a heavy topic to cover, so we do try to keep some of the awareness events on the lighthearted side of things. This has proven to be a successful strategy.

This month, we are hosting our Second Annual Kickball for a Cause: Battle of the Badges event. Teams from LIADV and our law enforcement partners are participating, including:

• The Suffolk County Police Department,
• The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, and
• The District Attorney’s Office.

We go head-to-head to “kick off” Domestic Violence Awareness Month and battle it out to see who will be crowned the Kickball Champion. (Author’s note: Needless to say, it certainly has not—and will not—be the LIADV team.) It is an excellent awareness event that gives our LIADV team a chance to relax. Even better, we get to have a bit of fun with the people with whom we work daily to bring safety and support to survivors.

I continue this work for the same reasons I was drawn to it in the first place. There is much work to be done—and I firmly believe that doing nothing is not an option.

I cannot imagine doing anything other than the work I do now. I’m so blessed to have an incredible team alongside me on this journey. We might be a small organization on Long Island, but we can and do make a difference in our corner of the world.

October Is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

• Learn more about Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
• Learn more about Long Island Against Domestic Violence.
• Access the Everytown Resource Guide for Survivors of Domestic and Intimate Partner Violence.