Shelby Hoffman Binder

Shelby Hoffman Binder is the Policy, Advocacy, and Research Manager at The Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence (The Network), a collaborative non-profit organization with 45+ partners that provide direct services to survivors across Chicago. She leads production of action-oriented research reports, facilitates training on data-driven advocacy for the direct services community, consults on community-based research projects, and serves on the Illinois and Cook County Domestic Violence Fatality Review Committees. As a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) student at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, she researches policies and practices that support survivors. Prior to joining The Network, Hoffman Binder worked as a Legal Advocacy Supervisor at the Cook County Domestic Violence Courthouse and as a volunteer medical advocate for survivors of sexual assault in emergency rooms across Chicago.

The Network is an innovative, social impact organization dedicated to improving the lives of survivors through education, public policy and advocacy, and connecting community members with direct service providers. They reach 70,000+ survivors annually by operating the Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline and other programs like the Survivor Fund, the largest community-based direct cash assistance program for survivors in the country. The Policy, Advocacy, and Research team engages in legislative and budget advocacy at the city, county, and state level; builds sector strength by publishing local gender-based violence data; and coordinates community advocacy to address systemic problems. The Network’s flagship legislative initiative, Karina’s Bill, became Illinois law in 2025. It clarifies and strengthens the firearm removal process when a survivor is granted an order of protection with firearm relief.