Domestic Violence Advisory Board urges stronger cross‑system coordination as calls rise

Elise Hamilton Childress, prevention and intervention services division director with Mecklenburg County Community Support Services, described the Domestic Violence Advisory Board’s mission and membership and said the board helps monitor intimate‑partner‑violence services across the city and county.

Veronica Leonard, chair of the Domestic Violence Advisory Board and a mayoral appointee, told the committee she is both a survivor and an advocate and urged more city council engagement and legislative action where needed. Leonard said CMPD responded to roughly 25,000 domestic‑violence calls in 2024 and that figure rose to about 37,000 in 2025, a trend she described as increasing demand for coordinated services.

Leonard described survivor experiences that show limits to protective orders in some cases and urged a coordinated community approach beyond law enforcement. County staff noted persistent barriers to information sharing (different data systems across courts, hospitals, law enforcement and service providers) and challenges with workforce stability and training in the victim‑service sector.

Committee members asked for additional data (youth case counts, breakdowns and causes), requested follow‑up on potential legislative changes (for example, changes to DVPO procedures and notifications), and asked whether the board had a position on funding for organizations such as Safe Alliance. The board said domestic‑violence resources are insufficient and that it will discuss funding priorities at its upcoming meeting.

The committee asked the board to provide follow‑up written directives and requested that staff explore assigning a city council liaison to attend board meetings to improve monthly communication between the board and council.