The Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence (MNADV) is the federally recognized state domestic violence coalition for Maryland. We provide training, technical assistance and advocacy for all the local domestic violence service providers in Maryland as well as allied professionals. As one of our projects, we have developed a lethality assessment which is a research-based and validated tool that helps law enforcement evaluate how dangerous a domestic violence situation is when they are called to respond. Use of this tool, which we call LAP (Lethality Assessment Program), has recently been updated to LAP 2.0 and includes an updated training curriculum, an updated assessment tool, and a new database system for any jurisdiction that currently utilizes the LAP or wants to implement the program for the first time. MNADV has expanded this program nationwide and has developed a new annual subscription structure for those jurisdictions outside of Maryland that want to utilize LAP 2.0. We are looking for help to market the newly updated version of LAP 2.0 and our subscription service.

According to an article in the Washington Post, nearly half of women who were murdered in the past decade were killed by a current or former partner. In 2023, Maryland lost 38 people as a result of domestic violence. These are tragic losses that could have been avoided if victims of domestic violence were properly connected to the supportive services they need and deserve. How can we intervene to prevent these terrible losses in the future?

One answer is to implement the Lethality Assessment Program. At its core, MNADV's LAP 2.0 is simply a homicide reduction tool. It is a research-based assessment tool that allows first responders to better understand the severity of the situation in front of them and trains them on a specific protocol that can help keep a dangerous situation from getting worse. This is a time-tested tool that has resulted in a reduction in domestic violence-related homicides in Maryland and we want to see the use of it spread across the country.

Help us educate law enforcement groups, units of government and other stakeholders across the country about LAP 2.0. There are ways to reduce the impact of domestic violence on our communities and everyone should know about the tools that are available to keep our friends and family safe.

We have some marketing materials developed and some jurisdictions around the country, including a few statewide projects, that have already subscribed to our LAP 2.0 membership structure and are currently implementing LAP 2.0. We have dedicated project staff and communications people that we can utilize on this project. If we were to have a well-defined marketing plan, we already have the staff identified who can implement the plan. We do have some funding available and based on the recommendations in a marketing plan, will work to secure any additional funds needed. Certainly our staff are content experts on domestic violence in general and LAP specifically, but we are not marketing or public relations trained professionals and so would benefit from this type of support. We don't know what we don't know about how to get the word out about this life-saving tool we have developed.