In 1983, the Colorado General Assembly created the DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAM  (formerly the Domestic Abuse Assistance Program) located in the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) Office of Behavioral Health and Housing. The legislation created the Colorado Domestic Abuse Fund (CDAF), a voluntary check-off on Colorado individual income tax forms to encourage the development and maintenance of domestic abuse programs by non-governmental agencies and units of local government.  Funds contributed to the CDAF go to support services at local, community-based domestic abuse programs.

DVP and the CDAF ensure that services to victims of domestic abuse and their children are readily available thoughout Colorado's diverse communities.  In addition to the CDAF, DVP pools funding from two federal sources, the FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND SERVICES ACT (FVPSA) and TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES (TANF), to sustain a network of domestic abuse programs and services.

More than just a funding administration, DVP monitors domestic abuse programming standards, tracks statistical data, develops and delivers domestic abuse-related training to CDHS and county departments of human/social services personnel, and works collaboratively with other State entities and community partners.  DVP's collaborative work helps to develop domestic abuse policy, legislation and community awareness.