Domestic violence victims often get lost in the shuffle but local advocates for survivors are working on their behalf at the state Legislature this year.

Melissa Arias, who works for DAWN, Domestic Abuse Women’s Network, and is a board member of the King County Coalition Against Domestic Violence, will give a presentation on those efforts at the quarterly meeting of South King County Domestic Violence Task Forces on Friday in Covington.

Victoria Throm, who leads the Covington task force, said the meetings are critical for those who work with survivors. Representatives from Renton, Federal Way, Kent, Tukwila, Auburn, Enumclaw and SeaTac task forces will be at the meeting.

“The idea is to come together to network, learn about what is going on with domestic violence,” Throm said in an e-mail. “Each city takes turn hosting and now it’s Covington’s turn. Since there are several initiatives in the legislature, and the King County DV (Domestic Violence) Lobby Day takes place on Thursday, it seemed to me that the subject and speaker we chose was timely.”

Because the budget is a hot and contentious topic this year, Arias will touch on the King County Domestic Violence Coalition’s legislative priorities and how they will impact survivors, with lobbyists looking at state funding for services as well as “enhanced sentencing for abusers.”

Throm founded the Covington task force and has collaborated with other agencies in South King County to offer services to victims since 2005. She works for the city as a human services specialist and is the first point of contact for residents seeking help.

More information about the Covington DVTF can be found online at: http://www.ci.covington.wa.us/covingtonlife/domesticviolencetaskforce.cfm.