Our Partners
The Joyful Heart Foundation works in partnership with a wide range of private, public and non-profit organizations that share our common goal. Our commitment to coalition building comes from our firmly held belief that we are stronger together and weaker apart. We are honored to partner with law enforcement, advocates, sexual assault organizations, survivors and policymakers to end the untested rape kit backlog.
The federal government has a key role to play in investing in justice for survivors, accountability for perpetrators and safety for America’s communities. Joyful Heart has worked with congressional allies to ensure full funding of opportunities to implement comprehensive rape kit reform. U.S. Department of Justice divisions - the Bureau of Justice Assistance, National Institute of Justice and the Office on Violence Against Women - provide crucial grants to jurisdictions working to reduce their backlog of untested rape kits, and provide resources and services to survivors of sexual assault. And for the first time, the Obama administration created a White House Council on Women and Girls and White House Advisor on Violence Against Women in the Office of the Vice President, to give this work the full weight of the Executive Branch.
Many key partners have turned their attention to the rape kit backlog, including:
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AEquitas AEquitas' mission is to improve the quality of justice in sexual violence, intimate partner violence, stalking, and human trafficking cases by developing, evaluating, and refining prosecution practices that increase victim safety and offender accountability. |
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H-E-A-R-T H-E-A-R-T (Hope Exists After Rape Trauma) is a victim centered organization whose work includes helping to enact legislation, both state and federal, presenting at seminars, giving press conferences and generally working to raise awareness. H-E-A-R-T promotes the expanded use and continued improvement of DNA testing through educating legislators, law enforcement officials, and others. |
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IACP The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) aims to advance the art and science of police services; develop and disseminate improved practices and promote their use; foster police cooperation and the exchange of information throughout the world; and encourage adherence of all police officers to high professional standards of performance and conduct. The IACP is a member of the Technical Advisory Team for the Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance Sexual Assault Kit Initiative grants. |
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IAFN The International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN) is an international membership organization that develops, promotes, and disseminates information internationally about forensic nursing science. |
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Manhattan District Attorney's Office In 2015, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office awarded $38 million dollars to 32 jurisdictions in 20 states to eliminated their sexual assault kit backlogs. These grants will provide for the analysis of an estimated 56,475 previously untested rape kits. The Joyful Heart Foundation was proud to serve as a technical advisor on this program. |
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National Alliance to End Sexual Violence The National Alliance to End Sexual Violence educates the policy community about federal laws, legislation and appropriations impacting the fight to end sexual violence. Its team of experts and advocates, donating time away from their state and local groups, publish written analysis, track legislation, provide media interviews, and advise members of Congress and the executive branch. |
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Natasha's Justice Project Natasha’s Justice Project (NJP) is working to end the backlog for good. NJP works through research, public education and media outreach. NJP also offers travel grants so that survivors can be present at their attackers’ trials. |
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National Center for Victims of Crime The National Center for Victims of Crime is the nation's leading resource and advocacy organization for crime victims and those who serve them. Since its inception in 1985, the National Center has worked with grassroots organizations and criminal justice agencies throughout the United States serving millions of crime victims.
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RAINN The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network is the nation's largest anti-sexual assault organization. RAINN operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1.800.656.4673 and the National Sexual Assault Online Hotline at rainn.org, and publicizes the hotline's free, confidential services; educates the public about sexual assault; and leads national efforts to prevent sexual assault, improve services to victims and ensure that rapists are brought to justice.
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Rape Kit Action Project The Rape Kit Action Project (RKAP) is a group of national leaders in the effort to end sexual violence. RKAP members have extensive experience in victim advocacy and public policy, from legislative drafting advocacy to harnessing and leveraging grassroots and media sources, to ensure victims receive justice and rapists are held accountable. RKAP members include the Joyful Heart Foundation, Natasha’s Justice Project, the National Center for Victims of Crime, RAINN, and Test400k. |
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Test 400K Test400k raises awareness, advocates, lobbies, and pushes for innovative new technology to be used in ending the backlog of untested rape kits and make sure communities and law enforcement provide immediate and swift response time to victims of sexual assault going forward. |
The work of these partners has resulted in significant changes in state and federal laws regarding rape kit testing. Their long-term commitment to the cause guides and informs our work as we advocate for continued rape kit reform.
