DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH
COMMUNITY ACTION RECOGNIZES DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS & PREVENTION MONTH
Over 10 million adults experience domestic violence annually in the U.S., including physical, sexual, verbal, emotional, and economic abuse. Domestic violence accounts for 15% of all violent crime nationwide and domestic abuse hotlines receive approximately 19,000 calls per day. Perpetrators commit acts of domestic violence against certain survivor populations at disproportionately high rates, including women, people of color, American Indian and Alaska Native (AAIN) women, trans individuals, people living with disabilities, and people experiencing low incomes – rates are even higher among individuals that identify as being in more than one of these groups. Children are also disproportionately affected, either by being subjected to or witnessing domestic violence, which can have traumatic, long-term negative effects, including serious health conditions, anxiety, and depression. Patterns of domestic violence also lead to lower-incomes among survivors due to trauma, job loss, lack of affordable housing, and the cost of legal services.
Programs and services that prevent and respond to patterns of domestic violence are crucial to addressing the causes and conditions of poverty. Community Action Agencies (CAA) provide services that directly support survivors, including crisis counseling and intervention, support groups, housing assistance, and legal referrals. But all programs that increase opportunity and economic security for people experiencing low incomes empower them with options and help prevent physical, psychological, and economic abuse. As trusted messengers in their communities, CAAs can also raise awareness about domestic violence and educate community members about advocacy actions that will reduce violence and abuse.
October is National Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Month and the National Community Action Partnership recognizes the CAAs and State Associations that support survivors and educate the public about the harmful effects that all forms of domestic violence have on our communities.
For more information about Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Month you can visit the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) main page, which includes factsheets and a sign-up form to receive a #WeAreResilient Toolkit. The National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRCDV) has also posted resources, including a flyer of October 2022 events.
NCAP has created the graphics below for agencies and associations to use as they participate in domestic violence awareness and prevention campaigns:
SAMPLE GRAPHICS
Feel free to use any of the following graphics. Click the image to download.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Federal and state offices provide multiple resources that prevent and address domestic violence, including the DOJ Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) and CDC reports on Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) prevention. The National Domestic Violence Hotline provides call, text, and live chat options and the Domestic Violence Resources Network (DVRN) at HHS serves as a directory of organizations that serve specific survivor communities.
On the state level, the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) continually updates its table of state-specific domestic violence laws and definitions of “abuse” and “relationships.”
Professional groups also provide support and resources for their members, including social workers (National Association of Social Workers), health care professionals (Futures Without Violence) and judges (Judicial Engagement Network).