October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month
National Domestic Violence Awareness Month is observed every October across the country. National, state, and community organizations for violence prevention and victim services, businesses, health care providers, and others mark the month with educational programs, recognition and memorial ceremonies, community outreach, and other efforts.
Any violence taking place within a family or intimate relationship is domestic violence. It includes abuse of spouses, girlfriends and boyfriends, children, and elderly people. Domestic violence cuts across all socioeconomic, ethnic, racial, religious, and age groups.
Studies show that children who witness violence at home experience behavioral problems and increased aggression, have less developed social and conflict resolution skills, and may suffer long-term developmental effects. These youth are also at risk of engaging in future violence and of being abused themselves. Researchers have found that people who batter their partners are also more likely to abuse their children.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline provides services in English and Spanish, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you or someone you know is being abused, contact the hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).
Here are several resources about domestic violence:
Intimate Partner and Family Violence Fact Sheet
www.safeyouth.org/scripts/facts/intimate.asp
This NYVPRC fact sheet provides an overview of violence within families and
couples, contributing factors, and effects that witnessing violence has on children.
In Harm's Way: Domestic Violence and Child Maltreatment
www.calib.com/dvcps/facts/harmway.doc
This National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information report focuses on the effects of domestic violence on children, including those who are witnesses to violence and those who also are being abused or neglected. It also presents a range of collaborative prevention and intervention programs that have been implemented through federal, state, and local initiatives.
Children and Domestic Violence: A Bulletin For Professionals
www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/domesticviolence.pdf
This Child Welfare Information Gateway bulletin addresses the behavioral, social, emotional, cognitive, and attitudinal effects of domestic violence on children; protective and risk factors, coping strategies and skills; and the resulting implications for child welfare services.
Extent, Nature, and Consequences of Intimate Partner Violence: Findings from the National Violence Against Women Survey
www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/pubs-sum/181867.htm
This National Institute of Justice report presents findings from a survey of
8,000 U.S. women and 8,000 U.S. men about their experiences as victims of intimate
partner violence (rape, physical assault, and stalking).
Stalking and Domestic Violence
www.ncjrs.org/pdffiles1/ojp/186157.pdf
This publication gives an overview of the problem of stalking and domestic violence.
It also discusses the law and efforts by the Department of Justice to respond
to the problems.
Office on Violence Against Women
www.usdoj.gov/ovw/
The Office on Violence Against Women is a component of the U.S. Department of
Justice which works with other offices, agencies, and jurisdictions to implement
the 1994 Violence Against Women Act and subsequent legislation.
DVAM
http://dvam.vawnet.org/
The Domestic Violence Awareness Month Web site is coordinated by the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence.
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
www.ncadv.org
The mission of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) is to
work for major societal changes necessary to eliminate both personal and societal
violence against all women and children. NCADV established National Domestic
Violence Awareness Month in 1987.
VAWNet
www.vawnet.org
The National Electronic Network on Violence Against Women, or VAWNet, provides
resources for advocates working to end domestic violence, sexual assault, and
other violence in the lives of women and their children.