Equity Statement

We are committed to providing the same resources and support for everyone struggling with thoughts of violence regardless of ethnicity, sex, orientation, or background.

NVPH Hotline and Program:
1. The National Violence Prevention Hotline (NVPH) and Programs will serve people of all ethnicities, socioeconomic status, and of diverse languages within the United States. It is meant to be national and we mean that in every sense—it is not aimed at serving any population above another. We follow the ethics provided by the National Board of Social Workers and the American Counseling Association, which are both explicitly anti-racist, embrace diversity, and pledge never to exclude anyone from services for any reason.
2. To that end we, as the Board, are committed to embracing diverse ideas, backgrounds, experiences, and viewpoints in order that the non-profit, the hotline, and programs may have the farthest reach and are effective for all people living in the United States.
  1. Thus, the staff that will serve the community through NVPH will aim to have training on implicit biases as well as diverse backgrounds, experiences, ethnicities, viewpoints, and languages spoken. We aim to staff NVPH with speakers of English at first. If possible, we will expand to have more languages spoken, such as: Spanish, Chinese (Mandarin, Cantonese, Hokkien and More), Tagalog (Filipino), Vietnamese, French and French Creole, Arabic, Korean, Russian, and German. We will determine needs by collecting data and expand services accordingly, using translation services when needed.
    1. Not only will this enable NVPH to communicate with people that call the hotline in their native language, but it will also enable clinical staff as well as administrative staff to collaborate on programming (non-violence in the community), and call scripts (interventions) that are culturally appropriate for each and every caller (person who texts or chats online with NVPH).
    2. We understand that homogeneity stunts the ability for even the most seasoned professionals and clinicians to get out of their comfort zones and can even prevent them from challenging core assumptions. We know from the field of counseling psychology that understanding one’s own origins and how these experiences may contribute to implicit bias is key to a healthy and effective clinician. Furthermore, if a person is able to effectively listen and learn from others with different cultural backgrounds and experiences, they will be a more effective clinician and collaborator. NVPH will provide all training needed and seek outside consultants to ensure the training is appropriate.

The Non-Profit:
1. We, The National Violence Prevention Hotline Board, are committed to provide an equitable and fair working environment for all, regardless of gender, age, gender identity, race, health status, national origin, relationship status, sexual orientation, disability, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and religion. We aim to welcome ALL people to work for our organization without judgment or bias.
2. The Board Members are wanting NVPH to function to its fullest capacity and thus are more of an oversight committee. We are wanting to hire a clinical director, an outreach director, a director of training, a government and emergency services liaison, along with the clinical staff and information technology staff that will be required to actually operate. We desire NVPH to function from a core set of values that honor life and nonviolent practices.

Evolution of NVPH
1. This is by no means our last equity statement. This is a statement that was crafted by our Board and reflects the current status of the organization.
2. We pledge to continue updating our equity statement as needed.

Affirmation of Equity
1. NVPH Board hereby pledges that no person has or ever will be excluded from services based on the diversity characteristics described in the statement above.
2. NVPH Board hereby pledges that no person will be excluded from governance, employment or volunteer participation in NVPH as described in the policy above.
3. NVPH Board pledges to treat all people with respect and fairly, not only the staff and volunteers, but all callers and people that utilize our sevices.