By Olivia Overman
Sponsored by ACTS
It has been a busy year already for Action In Community Through Service (ACTS). In March the nonprofit celebrated its 50th Anniversary; in April, it was the recipient of the 2019 Mayor’s Choice Non-Profit of the Year (Dumfries) Award. Dumfries Mayor Derrick Wood said, “ACTS was chosen because of the reach they have as a nonprofit whose base is in the Town of Dumfries but impact reaches all of Prince William.”
It is the staff at ACTS that make the nonprofit what it is. It came as no surprise that some of the staff were recently recognized for the work they do within the community. These are the April awardees:
Dotty Larsen, Director, ACTS Domestic Violence Services
The Prince William County Chapter of Chapter of the Virginia Women Attorney Association (VWAA) awarded Dotty Larson the chapter’s 2019 Justitia Award presented at the Prince William County Bar Association’s Dinner Dance in April. The Justitia Award recognizes exemplary role models in the legal community who support and promote the goals of the VWAA and, in particular, demonstrate the following strengths:
- Commitment to justice and the women of Prince William County
- A generosity of spirit and skills
- Demonstrated leadership
- Embodies the role of a trailblazer, coach, innovator, mentor, and groundbreaker.
Larsen has worked for ACTS since 1988 and has, for several decades, been an outspoken advocate for people who suffer domestic violence. As director of domestic violence services at ACTS, she has worked tirelessly to raise awareness of the issue of domestic violence and has also developed ways to assist victims. Some of the programs she has helped develop include a court advocacy program that provides victims with an accompaniment to court when they are seeking a protective order, and safehouses that provide a safe and supportive environment for those fleeing abuse.
She also implemented the Lethality Assessment Protocol (LAP), which works in conjunction with the Prince William County Police. The LAP program provides a way for the police to connect victims of domestic violence to ACTS Domestic Violence Program, right from the scene of the incident. This has resulted in an increase in the number of victims receiving services.
April Vandover, Coordinator, ACTS Domestic Violence Services Children Program
Vandover was honored at the Annual Child Protection Partnership (CPP) Luncheon for her work with youth affected by domestic violence. Working with ACTS and the CPP, Vandover provides support groups for children between the ages of 5 and 17 years old. “The focus of the program is primarily to teach the skills necessary to break the cycle of violence but also includes problem-solving skills, coping skills, building self-esteem, while also providing support,” said Vandover.
Vandover has a team of volunteers that work with her on the Domestic Violence Services Children Program.
Caroline Shaaber, Volunteer, ACTS Domestic Violence Services Children Program
Shaaber received the award for Volunteer of the Year for ACTS at the Annual Child Protection Partnership (CPP) Luncheon for her work with the Turning Points Children’s Program. “I am one of the volunteers that works with the Middle School age students on Monday evenings. We have up to 10 students that we work with for 15 weeks at a time. I have been with ACTS for almost two years as a volunteer and I love every minute of it,” said Shaaber. “This award means the world to me; I enjoy seeing the children grow and change and learn. Having had a difficult childhood myself it is extremely rewarding to at least attempt to help and make a change in their lives,” she said.
ACTS continues to be recognized for the work and services it provides to the Prince William community. Look out for more awards to come!
With a mission to instill hope, provide relief and to promote self-sufficiency for our neighbors in crisis in the Greater Prince William area, ACTS is working towards creating a community where no one goes without or suffers alone. Through the services and programs we offer, we believe while people may come to us in crisis, they will leave filled with hope, concrete relief and the tools to succeed without us.
Olivia Overman (ooverman@princewilliamliving.com) is a freelance writer for both online and print organizations. She earned a M.A. in Journalism and Public Affairs from American University, Washington, D.C.
