Domestic Violence Awareness Month

By Julie Nauman, VCGCB Executive Officer

The question we ask ourselves during Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM), and throughout the year, is how do we, as a community, turn awareness into action? How do we spark a change across the state?

“Silence Hides Violence: Be a Voice” was the California Victim Compensation Program’s (CalVCP) theme and call to action during DVAM as we step up to make a change and encourage others to do the same.

Domestic violence affects 12 million people every year in the U.S. including men, women, and children. It has many faces as it knows no gender, race or ethnicity. It is no secret that domestic violence occurs; however, it is a silent problem. We must be a voice for domestic violence survivors.

Domestic Violence: Driving Change

By Virginia Witt, Director, NO MORE

Domestic Violence affects over 12 million people in the U.S. every year. Nearly 3 in 10 women and 1 in 10 men have experienced rape, physical violence and/or stalking by an intimate partner. Sadly, domestic violence also affects our children. The U.S. Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect suggests that domestic violence may be a major precursor to child abuse and neglect fatalities in this country. It can happen to anyone, regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation or economic status.

Victims and perpetrators of domestic violence are people we know in our families, churches, schools and neighborhoods. Although it can be overwhelming to figure out how to help victims and stop these crimes, each of us holds the power to be an active bystander and help prevent further abuse.

In 2013 the NO MORE campaign was launched in partnership with over two dozen national domestic violence and sexual assault organizations and major corporations to serve as a unified voice to bring national attention to these issues.

Going Beyond Awareness to Understanding — In October, the Golden State Turns Purple

By Jessica Merrill, Communications & Development Manager at the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence

You’ve probably heard this familiar statistic: one in four women has experienced domestic violence. But what knowledge should you know to truly understand what survivors go through? To stand with survivors, ensuring that we create a culture where they are supported, believed and protected, it’s essential that we listen to their experiences and gain a nuanced understanding of the ways they’re marginalized.

For example, did you know that teens in abusive relationships are more likely to struggle academically? If we think about the many ways this has consequences in the lives of California’s youth, one solution becomes clear—school policies should address adolescent dating abuse and offer support to those who are affected by it.

Suited for Success Clothing Drive

By Julie Nauman, VCGCB Executive Officer

Yesterday I was honored to participate in a press conference for the 2nd Annual CalVCP Suited for Success Program where we presented three very deserving organizations with nearly 2,000 clothing items. The Suited for Success Program was a great success and we are proud of all of the donations that were made. Suited for Success is an incredible program run by our friends at WEAVE to provide interview-quality professional and business casual clothing to victims of domestic violence and/or sexual assault in the greater Sacramento area.

This year, we were thrilled to partner with the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence and expand the potential for collection. With their assistance we were able to place collection bins in several State agencies and departments, including the Governor’s Office. We also had a helping hand from many Legislative offices and from our friends at Chicory Coffee and Tea on L Street.

WEAVE began this program back in 1999 to fill the need in assisting domestic violence victims attain economic independence. WEAVE, along with our partners, My Sister’s House and the Domestic Violence Intervention Center, help domestic violence victims who are forced to leave their homes and start all over again. Many lack the financial freedom to get back on their feet — and that is where these incredible organizations and the Suited for Success Program come in.

I was touched by a message I received shortly following the press event from Nilda Valmores, Executive Director at My Sister’s House. She wrote:

"A client from our Women to Work Program just came by sharing that she has an interview in a few hours. I asked her if she had her outfit. She said "no." I said, "Guess what I have in my van?" She found not only a great outfit for the interview but some wonderful items for when she starts the job . . . we're feeling positive. She said, "I feel like it's Christmas!"

I was moved by this story and reminded of the great work these organizations do and why it is so important to continue to support victims of domestic violence. We know that domestic violence continues to be a concerning issue for California and here in the Sacramento region. The California Victim Compensation Program provides assistance to more than 15,000 victims of domestic violence every year. In fact, 35 percent of all the applications we process annually come from domestic violence victims. Many victims come to us looking to relocate, go to counseling, and get medical attention, and I am proud that we have such a program that can assist with these financial burdens.

Thank you to all who joined us and who donated the life-changing clothing to these worthy organizations. A special thanks to the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence for being a great partner with us during National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and of course to WEAVE, My Sister’s House, and the Domestic Violence Intervention Center who will distribute the clothing to those in need.

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Julie Nauman is the Executive Officer for the Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board (VCGCB). VCGCB provides compensation for victims of violent crime and helps to resolve claims against the State.

Sacramento’s New B.O.S.S. Program: Building Opportunities for Domestic Violence Survivors

By Tara Shabazz, Executive Director, California Partnership to End Domestic Violence

When domestic violence survivors leave their abusive relationships and seek shelter, it can be a first step toward a new life. But what many people don’t realize is that after victims leave they must immediately face a whole new set of economic challenges, challenges that can sometimes tip the scale when they’re weighing whether or not to return to an abusive partner. Economic factors and financial issues play a critical role in domestic violence, and present serious obstacles for many women who wish to leave their batterers and stay out for the long term.

That’s why my agency, the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence, is so excited about a new program we’re launching with support from the Allstate Foundation: it’s called B.O.S.S., or “Building Opportunities for Survivors’ Success.” This groundbreaking new collaborative will help Sacramento-area service providers support survivors in achieving the financial stability they need to keep their families safe. Together with two local domestic violence agencies (My Sister’s House, WEAVE) and one homeless services agency (Women’s Empowerment) the Partnership will work to make Allstate Foundation’s Moving Ahead through Financial Management curriculum available to shelter residents and others affected by domestic violence.

Economic concerns are the most frequently cited reason survivors return to abusive relationships. If the choice is between going back to an abuser and becoming homeless, a victim may choose to return in order to keep a roof over their kids’ head or food on the table. Domestic violence advocates know that in order for survivors to build new, violence-free lives, they must have a solid financial foundation. Over the course of the coming year, the Partnership will use the Allstate Foundation’s grant to support the participating agencies in training their advocates to teach Allstate’s financial curriculum to their clients.

The Partnership is the statewide umbrella organization for California’s domestic violence service providers and allies, and so we’re uniquely positioned to support community programs in collaborative projects and resource sharing. The structure of the B.O.S.S. program is innovative, in that we’ve chosen as our collaborators one mainstream domestic violence agency (WEAVE) one culturally specific organization (My Sister’s House) and one homeless services provider (Women’s Empowerment). The Partnership strongly believes that by sharing expertise, advocates and allies can end domestic violence, because together we’re stronger.

The B.O.S.S. program is an amazing collaborative opportunity for community-based organizations to pool resources and share their strengths in addressing survivors’ financial literacy and stability. Our member advocates have told us that many survivors passing through their doors have questions about banking, credit ratings and how to begin to separate their financial lives from those of their abusers. In the coming year, the B.O.S.S. program will host a series of workshops on those topics; the workshops will take place at each of the participating agencies in turn, for maximum convenience for the survivor workshop participants. The Partnership will train advocates from the three local agencies to teach the workshop sessions and present supplemental materials in an engaging, accessible manner. We’ll also oversee the creation of a local resources list, and a consortium of Sacramento area community-based financial programs, community partners and other stakeholders to contribute to the sustainability of B.O.S.S. and other long-term strategies. We want Sacramento, and ultimately the whole of California, to be a place where victims can access services that will not only keep them safe in the short term, but will also help them build a long-term future that’s violence free and financially secure.

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Tara Shabazz is the Executive Director of the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence, the nationally-recognized State Domestic Violence Coalition for California. Together with our 150 member organizations and individuals across the entire state, The Partnership has built upon the 30-year history of our predecessor organizations while forging into new territory to provide statewide leadership and successfully pass legislation to ensure safety and justice for domestic violence survivors and their children.

Drawing Attention to Teen Dating Violence Prevention in February

By the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAPM) – a national effort to raise awareness about abuse in youth relationships and mobilize communities to support young people in having safe and healthy relationships. Sadly, just as the month began, Myrna Umanzor, 15, a teen from San Leandro, California was murdered, allegedly by her 19 year old boyfriend, who took his own life the next day. The loss of life in San Leandro is another tragic wakeup call to communities across the state to strengthen efforts to address teen dating violence, also known as dating abuse. During February, thousands across California will engage youth and reach new audiences through Proclamations, educational events, and other efforts. Although we cannot accomplish all of our strategic goals in one short month, these focused efforts will help elevate community understanding of the issues and solutions.

What is dating abuse?

Dating abuse is the use of physical, sexual, verbal, emotional, or technological abuse by a person to harm, threaten, intimidate, or control a dating partner, regardless of whether that relationship is continuing or has concluded, or the number of interactions between the individuals involved. Dating abuse is associated with a host of adverse outcomes, including truancy, use of alcohol and drugs, eating disorders, depression and suicide. Adolescents and young adults experience the highest degree of intimate violence of any age group, and young women ages 16-24 are most likely to be victimized.

Yet, the distinctive aspects of dating abuse make it one of the most overlooked forms of violence. Many young victims do not recognize warning signs and confuse controlling behaviors as a sign of care. Fear and shame discourage victims from seeking help, and when they do, adults often minimize the potential for harm, unaware of the danger of increasing frequency and severity of abuse over time, and the heightened risk for physical violence during or after a break up.

What you can do

• Spread the word! Sample TDVAPM Facebook posts and Twitter tweets can be found at www.cpedv.org/tdvapm.
• Build your knowledge! Online professional learning opportunities during February can be found here.
• Educate and engage teens and parents! Useful websites with resources can be found at www.cpedv.org/tdvapm.
• Strengthen partnerships! Year round, we encourage victim service providers to partner with youth, parents, schools, adolescent health and mental health providers, and other stakeholders.
• Stay Connected! Sign up for the Partnership’s Prevention Digest to stay abreast of teen dating violence prevention projects, resources and opportunities in California.

Finally, if you know of a teen or parent that could benefit from speaking to a caring, well-trained peer advocate, please connect them with the National Dating Abuse Helpline, at 866-331-9474 (TTY: 1-866-331-8453), by texting “loveis” to 77054, or through live chat at www.loveisrespect.org.

The Partnership's Prevention Program advances effective teen dating violence prevention policies and programs through leadership, advocacy and a statewide network of prevention advocates dedicated to promoting healthy relationships and preventing teen dating violence. For more information, contact Lisa Fujie Parks, Prevention Program Manager, at lisa@cpedv.org or 916-444-7163 x117.