South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (SCCADVASA) announced that Patricia Ravenhorst has been named as the agency’s general counsel. In addition, she will be building a statewide legal assistance program will provide training and assistance for contract attorneys who will represent survivors of domestic and sexual violence who are receiving services from SCCADVASA’s network of member organizations.

“This program is an exciting expansion of the range of services available to survivors as they navigate multiple systems on their path to healing,” said Sara Barber, executive director of SCCADVASA. “One of the most serious gaps identified by the Domestic Violence Task Force under Former Governor Haley was the lack of representation for victims in family court. Our aim with this initiative is to develop a holistic legal program that provides support for survivors of both sexual and domestic violence as they seek to address their complex and varied needs.”

Prior to joining SCCADVASA, Ravenhorst served as the director and attorney of the SC Victim Assistance Network’s (SCVAN) Immigrant Victim Program, where she established the organization’s specialized legal and supportive services to immigrant survivors of crime and the SC Statewide Immigrant Victim Coalition, which brings together professionals throughout the state working with immigrant survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, and human trafficking. She currently serves on the SC Human Trafficking Task Force and the Upstate Human Trafficking Task Force.

This program has been made possible by a grant from the South Carolina Bar Foundation.

About SCCADVASA:

SCCADVASA's mission is to end domestic and sexual violence in South Carolina and beyond through engaging individuals and communities in advocacy, collaboration, and education. SCCADVASA advocates for the transformative social change that will result in a society free of violence, work to implement policy changes that support survivors, and provide education and technical assistance to build the capacity of its members, allied organizations, and communities to provide trauma-informed and survivor-centered services.