ATHENS, GA – The Georgia Commission on Family Violence today announced that the Mountain Judicial Circuit Family Violence Task Force has been named the recipient of the Task Force of the Year Award at the Commission's 32nd Annual Conference in Athens, Georgia.

The Task Force of the Year Award recognizes a Family Violence Task Force that serves as a model for grassroots community organizing. The award honors a cohesive group that consistently works to provide an innovative, coordinated community response to domestic violence. Recipients are survivor-centered and work across stakeholder groups to proactively educate their communities about domestic violence while improving systems and processes for survivors.

The Mountain Judicial Circuit Family Violence Task Force is a multidisciplinary coalition serving Rabun, Banks, Habersham, and Stephens Counties, dedicated to reducing the incidence of family violence through education, training, collaboration, and resource development. Guided by the belief that family violence is a community issue requiring a coordinated community response, the Task Force works to increase public awareness, improve offender accountability, enhance victim safety, and strengthen resources for survivors through partnerships with local agencies and organizations.

 Its mission is to improve the community's understanding of and response to family violence, recognizing that lasting change requires the engagement of the entire community. As the Task Force often emphasizes, "It takes two things for violence to occur: a perpetrator willing to commit violence and a community willing to let it happen."

Kelsey Taylor, Chair of the Mountain Judicial Circuit Family Violence Task Force, reflected on the recognition:

"Receiving the Task Force of the Year Award is an incredible honor because it recognizes the collective commitment of so many partners working to make North Georgia a safer place for individuals and families affected by violence. This recognition helps elevate the conversation around an issue that deserves our community's continued attention and support."

The award was presented at the Georgia Commission on Family Violence's 32nd Annual Conference, held this year in Athens, Georgia, which brings together advocates, law enforcement, court personnel, and community partners from across the state to strengthen Georgia's coordinated response to family violence.

About the Georgia Commission on Family Violence

The Georgia Commission on Family Violence works to eliminate family violence in Georgia through education, prevention, and improved response systems, and convenes an annual conference bringing together statewide partners committed to a coordinated community response to domestic violence.

 

Media Inquiries:
April Ross
Department of Community Supervision