We are proud to continue our longstanding partnership with the Domestic Violence Action Center, a statewide resource for survivors of domestic violence, as well as social service programs, city and state agencies, elected and appointed leaders, educators, health professionals, therapists, attorneys, employers, and community allies.

The agency is dedicated to assisting survivors to become safe and self-sufficient through various support services, including risk assessment, safety planning, crisis intervention, legal representation, and system navigation. Developing a specific, practical plan to leave an abusive situation, which is statistically the time of greatest danger, can help lower the risk of further life-threatening harm. Systemic challenges, such as housing needs, welfare benefits, immigration issues, medical care, child support, and more, can be exponentially harder for survivors to navigate.

Preventative education in the classroom focuses on what healthy relationships look like. Our call to action is to normalize having these conversations and to listen in confidence without judgment, to make way for growth, healing, and change as a community becoming more responsive to the needs of survivors.

Anyone may be suffering “unexpectedly”, whose secret may be better kept, or whose shame or embarrassment is so great it silences the victim from coming forward. For those with public profiles and financial resources, the stakes are high and the risks are great. While domestic violence happens in every sector, the significant difference tends to be the resources available to survivors. In order to service our diverse community, the expert DVAC staff represent eight different languages.

Although there are certainly cases of men abused by women or by other men, the overwhelming majority of cases involve women abused by men. We will continue to do everything we can for these women to have the opportunity to lead full and productive lives through access to education.