Governor has declared October as ‘Domestic Violence Awareness Month’ in Maine
Augusta, MAINE — Governor Janet Mills announced today that she will contribute $25,000 from her contingent account to the Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence (MCEDV) Liberation Fund in support of individuals escaping domestic violence.
MCEDV’s Liberation Fund provides resources to help survivors with the financial implications of leaving domestic abuse – ranging from clothing for children who have escaped an unsafe home to security cameras and gasoline.
The Governor, who has spoken publicly about her own experience with domestic violence, made the announcement at the 2026 Champions of Change Award ceremony in Hallowell. The annual honor from MCEDV is presented to individuals who have supported the health and safety of domestic violence survivors.
“As Domestic Violence Awareness Month draws to a close, I’m proud to support survivors escaping domestic violence with this contribution from my contingent account,” said Governor Janet Mills. “No person should feel alone or unable to get the help they need to be safe. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, escape is possible — call the statewide Domestic Abuse Helpline at 866-834-HELP.”
Governor Mills has declared October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Maine.
Throughout her tenure, Governor Mills has fought to prevent domestic violence, hold perpetrators accountable, and secure services and justice for survivors. In 2019, Governor Mills proposed, and the Legislature approved, legislation to protect individuals against gun violence while preserving the due process rights of persons with mental illness. Since that law was enacted in 2020, more than 1,687 firearms have been removed from dangerous people.
In 2024, Governor Mills allocated $6 million in one-time state funding to meet a critical shortfall in the federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), ensuring services for domestic violence and sexual assault survivors were funded across Maine. In the 2026-2027 biennial budget, the Governor dedicated another $6 million for VOCA as a biennial ongoing investment, permanently supporting critical services, including community-based domestic violence and sexual assault services, civil legal representation for survivors, government-based victim witness advocates, and housing and supportive services for elder abuse victims.
In addition to the $25,000 the Governor is contributing from her contingency fund, in the 2026-2027 budget, Governor Mills secured $2 million in one-time support services for survivors of domestic violence and $1 million in one-time support services for survivors of sexual assault.
This year’s Champions of Change Award was presented to Taylor Kilgore, Esq., attorney & owner of Kilgore Law, where she fights to protect children and families in the foster care system; as well as Celia Demos, BSN, RN, CLC, and Jessica Duma, BSN, RN, CLC, both of Maine CDC Public Health Nursing, for their efforts to support survivors of domestic violence.
MCEDV also awarded the Deb Chapman Legacy Award to Johnnie Walker, Director of Housing and Shelter Services at MCEDV’s member organization Partners for Peace. The annual award recognizes a staff person at a MCEDV member organization whose work demonstrates extraordinary dedication to MCEDV’s mission of ending domestic abuse.