“You have a voice, let it be heard” Published July 2, 2015 By Family Advocacy Program 5th Medical Group Family Advocacy MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Some victims don't ask for help because they fear for their safety or the safety of their children. Victims of domestic violence do not always recognize they are victims and feel the violence is normal. Unfortunately, it is often only when someone is seriously hurt that their friends, family, or professionals become aware of the situation. If you are a victim of abuse or know someone who is, the Family Advocacy Program (FAP) offers Domestic Abuse Victim Advocate (DAVA) services. The DAVA program is designed to provide a voice to victims who need support to speak about their experience. The DAVA works 24/7 as needed to provide victim advocacy to all active duty personnel, their family members or intimate partners who are eligible beneficiaries of the military health care system. The DAVA's duties include, but are not limited to: safety planning and linkage to needed installation and community services; regional and local resources; getting a protection order with both military and civil court; and support during court proceedings. Accompaniment is provided to the victim for medical appointments, law enforcement investigations, counseling, and any judicial processes. Each individual who is a victim of domestic violence has the option of either making a "restricted" or "unrestricted" report. An unrestricted report is for victims who want the military chain-of-command to know of an incident and to have it investigated and assessed by law enforcement, the Family Advocacy Program, chain-of-command, and Air Force Office of Special Investigation (AFOSI). A restricted report allows victims of abuse to report to specific individuals within the military systems to include; victim advocates, FAP and health care providers, the details of the abuse without that person having to report it further. However, if a restricted report becomes known to the command or FAP by a source other than the restricted report, it will be investigated as if it were an unrestricted report (Beals & Erwin, 2007). In addition, if safety becomes a concern, the Family Advocacy Officer has the discretion to change a restricted report to an unrestricted report. A limitation identified with a restricted report is if Command is not involved it can become difficult to ensure the victim's safety as Command supports military no-contact orders. If you are a victim of abuse and would like to talk to a DAVA please call: Office Number: 701-723-5096 Emergency Line: 701-557-9466 Written By The Family Advocacy Program Beals, J. E., & Erwin, P. (2007). Understanding the Military Response to Domestic Violence. Battered Women's Justice Project, 1-91. Women's Law. (2014). Domestic Violence. WomensLaw.org, retrieved from: http://www.womenslaw.org/simple.php?sitemap_id=39.