Southside Center for Violence Prevention (SCVP) received news of its accreditation on June 15 from the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance (VSDVAA). The VSDVAA is a coalition of a vast array of agencies such as the Virginia Department of Health, Prevent Child Abuse Virginia, the State Police, the Virginia Poverty Law Center, and domestic and sexual violence programs throughout Virginia that come together for a collaborative fight against violence.

The VSDVAA's governing body serves as a liaison between domestic and sexual violence and federal, state, and local governments, and advocates for the rights of victims of violence and oppression. Like the American Medical Association is to hospitals, the VSDVAA is to domestic and sexual violence programs-it plays an integral role in a DVSA program's success in preventing violence.

In order to become accredited, SCVP had to withstand a year long process of paperwork, stress, and tired eyes. The accreditation application was submitted in November, a site visit took place in March, and the acceptance notice was given in mid June.

Upon acceptance, SCVP is now recognized as a facility that maintains a high standard of service provision, like that of the Standards of Learning in public school systems. There are other benefits of accreditation as well: provides an avenue for advocacy at the national, state, and local levels; access to hotline services-including services for the sight and hearing impaired; part of a multidisciplinary team with the same goals in mind; educational opportunities for staff and volunteers; more funding opportunities.