Beyond the Installation: How Civilian Organizations Can Assess Readiness to Support Military-Connected Survivors
Presented by: Lee Helmken Cherry & joint presentor Kimberly Henry, Senior Military Coordinated Community Response Program Manager, National Organization for Victim Advocacy
Military-connected survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking often seek support from community-based organizations, yet many civilian agencies have never formally assessed their readiness to serve this population. In this interactive session, presenters from the National Organization for Victim Advocacy (NOVA) and Soteria Solutions will introduce a practical, survivor-centered framework for organizational self-assessment designed to strengthen services, partnerships, and organizational capacity. Participants will explore common barriers, examine how organizational culture and assumptions influence survivor access and trust, and learn how to use a structured assessment process to identify strengths, address gaps, and develop realistic action plans. Attendees will leave with practical tools and strategies to enhance support for military-connected survivors without needing specialized military expertise.