A newer version of the platform is available. Please refresh the page.
Sign Up to Get information about Sales & Events Click Here
A newer version of the platform is available. Please refresh the page.
By: by Garry Cooper, LCSW
Information adapted from the 2010 report of The National Network to End Domestic Violence. The report is available at http://www.nnedv.org/docs/Census/DVCounts2010/DVCounts10_NatlSummary_BW.pdf
The National Network to End Domestic Violence conducts an annual survey of domestic violence programs in the United States. Their 2010 report indicates both the desperate need for such programs and the fact that, largely due to funding difficulties, there is a growing need for more programs, services and funding. The survey looks at one 24-period and this provides a snapshot of what the agencies deal with in a typical day. Nationally, according to the report:
70, 648 victims were served on one day. 37,519 IPV victims found refuge in emergency shelters or transitional housing programs, and 33, 129 adults and children received nonresidential assistance such as counseling, legal advocacy and support groups for children. Domestic violence hotlines, which provide support information, safety planning and other resources, also carried a heavy load. In one day, they answered 23,522 phone calls – more than 16 phone calls every minute. Local domestic hotlines were by far the most frequently used, answering 22,292 calls, while the National Domestic Violence Hotline answered 1,230 calls.
Domestic violence programs don’t just respond; they’re also active in prevention and training. In the 24-hour period, 30, 134 people received prevention and education training, attending 1,240 training sessions.
Despite the obvious need, too many people are still under- or unserved by IPV programs. In the 24-hour period, there were 9,541 unmet requests for services. 60 percent of those were from people seeking emergency shelter or transitional housing. The reasons are all too familiar in these days of decreased funding and shrinking government help:
While funding and staff shrunk, demand for services increased. 82 percent of the programs reported a higher demand for their services, while 787of the programs reported a decrease in funding.
The report includes a state-by-state breakdown of agency reports. In California, where 92 percent of the agencies responded to the survey, the picture was similar to the national statistics. California IPV programs served 5,261 victims in one day, with 2,889 domestic violence victims finding refuge in emergency shelters or transitional housing, and 2,372 adults and children receiving non-residential assistance and services. Domestic violence hotlines answered 1,357 calls in one day – more than 57 calls per hour.
What kinds of services did the California IPV programs provide? 87 percent of them provided emergency shelter, 62 percent provided bilingual advocacy, 49 percent provided advocacy related to public benefits such as welfare or TANF, 42 percent provided legal services or advocacy, 37 percent provided childcare or daycare, 37 percent provided advocacy related to mental health issues, 33 percent helped with housing or landlord issues, and 16 provided support or advocacy to teenage victims of dating violence.
As with programs across the country, despite all the services provided, the available resources fell short of meeting the need. 84 percent of the programs rep[ported a higher demand for services. 47 percent reported not enough funding for needed programs and services, and 45 percent reported not enough staff, which again is a funding issue. This results in real harm to real people. California IPV programs reported in one 24-hour period 614 unmet needs for services. 50 percent (310) were for emergency shelter or transitional housing. 26 of the programs reported not enough specialized services. 22 percent reported no available beds or funding for hotels, and 12 percent reported limited funding for translators, bilingual staff, or accessible equipment.