[Archived] Claire Dunn Retires After 30 Years of Service as City’s Head of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Programs

For Immediate Release: June 4, 2015

After 30 years of exemplary, committed service to the City of Alexandria helping survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault receive the services and support they need, Claire Dunn retires.

For the past eight years, Dunn has served as division chief for the Sexual Assault Center and Domestic Violence Program in the Department of Community and Human Services.

Dunn led a Domestic Violence Program that provides services such as supportive individual and group counseling, court accompaniment, and the Battered Women’s Shelter, a program that provides safe and supportive housing for more than 100 survivors of domestic violence annually. She operated the Sexual Assault Center, which provides services to more than 300 adult and child victims of sexual assault each year including 24-hour crisis intervention and response to medical and law enforcement, legal advocacy, court accompaniment and supportive counseling as well as education and prevention.

At the state level, Dunn served on the original statewide certification committee which developed standards for sexual assault centers and domestic violence programs, later establishing the accreditation and re-accreditation of Alexandria’s domestic violence and sexual assault programs.

Dunn also contributed as president of the Board of Directors for the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance, serving on the Action Alliance Public Policy Committee, and serving on the Advisory Board for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to develop policy and procedures for the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Boards across Virginia.

During her tenure, Dunn led an initiative to improve outreach and services to those in the Alexandria community who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ).

Claire’s last day with the City was May 22, 2015. Debbie Evans has been selected to serve as division chief for the Sexual Assault Center and Domestic Violence Program. Evans has been with the City of Alexandria for 15 years, providing services to survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence.

For more information about the City of Alexandria's Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault programs, visit www.alexandriava.gov/DCHS/childrenfamilyor contact Debbie Evans at 703.746.4911.