The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) reports that about 20 people suffer violence at the hands of a domestic partner every minute in the United States. Unfortunately, domestic violence continues to be a problem in the U.S., costing more than $8 billion per year and representing about 15% of all violent crime in America. About 19% of all domestic violence involves a weapon, and only 34% of people who sustain injuries from an intimate partner receive medical treatment for those injuries. The NCADV also helps connect victims of domestic abuse to various support services nationwide.
In light of these disturbing statistics, it is crucial for everyone to know the domestic violence resources available to victims of intimate partner abuse or any other type of abuse in the home. Some of the following resources function as support networks for victims and survivors of domestic violence while others offer legal, housing, transportation, and other services for those attempting to escape domestic violence.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline
The National Domestic Violence Hotline, a network dedicated to connecting victims of domestic violence to support services in their communities, is one of the most accessible domestic violence resources in the U.S. Many networks, coalitions, and support services are dedicated to helping men, women, and children throughout the U.S. find help when they need it most. LGBT-specific organizations and numerous awareness and advocacy groups exist to help make domestic violence support services more accessible.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Although the CDC is not necessarily a domestic violence resource, the CDC does offer a wide range of support services for victims of domestic violence and can connect victims with federal resources.
- The Family Violence Prevention and Services Program is a federal funding stream for emergency shelters and other domestic violence assistance programs.
- The National Women’s Health Information Center provides current and reliable information for women’s health issues.
- The United States Department of Justice Office of Victims of Crime provides funding for state-level victim compensation and assistance programs.
- The U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women is a federal funding program that aims to reduce violence against women and support legal efforts against abusers.
This is not an exhaustive list, and the CDC also offers information on many more support networks throughout the country.
The Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB)
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families uses the FYSB to provide a wide range of domestic violence support services at the federal, state, and local levels. The FYSB offers several national-level hotlines, tribal resources for indigenous families, state-level domestic violence coalitions, and local-level community programs that offer safety planning assistance, legal assistance, counseling, housing assistance, and other support services.
Don’t Wait: Find Help Now
It is crucial for anyone in an abusive relationship to realize that the chances of the abuser completely turning his or her behavior around are very slim. The longer domestic violence continues, the more likely the victim is to suffer serious physical and psychological harm. It is important to recognize the signs of a domestic abuser before actual physical abuse begins. Controlling behavior, inordinate jealousy, financial abuse, isolation, excessive criticism and ridicule, and other warning signs are serious indicators of a domestic violence risk. Anyone who notices these signs should get away from the potentially dangerous situation as soon as possible.
When an individual commits domestic violence against a spouse, intimate partner, child, or any other relative, he or she faces both criminal charges and civil claims from victims. The aforementioned resources can help put victims of domestic violence in touch with valuable support services that enable them to find safe housing, counseling, and even legal assistance by a local personal injury lawyer.