warning Hi, we've moved to USCANNENBERGMEDIA.COM. Visit us there!

Neon Tommy - Annenberg digital news

Domestic Violence Awareness Month Brings Public Awareness To The Issue

Ashley Riegle |
October 1, 2012 | 3:44 p.m. PDT

Staff Reporter

A purple ribbon for National Domestic Violence Awareness Month (Creative Commons).
A purple ribbon for National Domestic Violence Awareness Month (Creative Commons).
In recognition of national Domestic Violence Awareness Month - October - local policy makers and organizations who work on domestic assault issues year-round are holding events to draw public awareness.

Last Thursday, Los Angeles-based Peace Over Violence (POV) held an open house at their headquarters on Wilshire Boulevard in downtown. The organization, which provides education, outreach and support for victims of sexual and domestic violence, was honoring Domestic Violence Awareness Month, as well as an expansion of service offerings they will be offering to local children and teens.

"This is an expansion for our organization based on our long-term goal to bring healing and respond to trauma across the lifespan," said Heather Masterton, director of development for POV. "Right now we provide services for 13-year-olds though elders. This expansion is focused on child sexual abuse and what is domestic abuse or sexual abuse by an abusive parent."

POV is one of the leading organizations working in Los Angeles to provide support to victims of domestic and sexual violence. One of the core areas of programming POV and other members of the Violence Prevention Coalition (VPC) focus on is the connection between domestic violence and gang violence.

"We see that a lot of violence in the streets begins as violence in the home," said Daniel Healy, community liaison for VPC. As such, a group of advocates meets monthly at City Hall to discuss what is known as the "domestic violence and gang violence nexus."

Domestic violence calls received in LA County in 2011, from SafeLA.org
Domestic violence calls received in LA County in 2011, from SafeLA.org
Nearly one in four women will experience domestic violence, according to statistics from the National Health Resource Center on Domestic Violence. Women make up 84 percent of domestic violence victims, and those between the ages of 20 to 24 are at greatest risk. Most cases of domestic violence are never reported to police.

According to the California Women‘s Health Survey, approximately 40 percent of California women experience physical intimate partner violence in their lifetimes, a rate much higher than the national average of 25 percent.

The Administration for Children and Families’ Division of Family Violence Prevention and Services, a department of Health and Human Services will host a “National Domestic Violence Awareness Unity Call” on Tuesday, Oct. 2, from 3 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. EST. 

 

Reach Staff Reporter Ashley Riegle here. Follow her on Twitter here.



 

Buzz

Craig Gillespie directed this true story about "the most daring rescue mission in the history of the U.S. Coast Guard.”

Watch USC Annenberg Media's live State of the Union recap and analysis here.