February 25, 2008

In This Issue:

• Bush Budget Threatens Violence Prevention Programs
• CDC Survey Finds Health Problems More Common for Victims of Violence
• New State Report Cards on Teen Dating Violence
• New Resource
• Save The Date

BUSH BUDGET THREATENS VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAMS

Advocates are deeply concerned about President Bush’s FY09 budget proposal, in which he asks Congress to slash funding by more than $100 million for U.S. Department of Justice programs to address and prevent violence against women. The President also would turn all funding for the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) into a block grant.

If Congress agrees, the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women would not have to abide by legislation that spells out how much money is spent on various types of programs. The President proposes to give smaller, related programs funded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services level funding or small decreases.

“This budget is irresponsible and could put the lives of women and children at risk,” FVPF President Esta Soler said. “VAWA has dramatically improved our nation’s response to violence against women and their families. We need to continue and enhance that work. We will ask Members of Congress to reject this proposal and maintain our nation’s commitment to the groundbreaking violence prevention programs that were funded for the first time last year.”

The Administration’s FY09 budget is similar to its FY08 budget proposal, but with more drastic cuts. While Congress rejected last year’s proposal, there is concern that rising budget deficits and fiscal pressure may make this a more difficult fight.

“The Administration’s budget for Violence Against Women Act programs is an outrage,” Senator Joe Biden (D-DE) said in a news release. “Domestic violence impacts one in every four women, yet the Administration proposes cutting spending by almost a third. It’s time to spend more, not less on our nation’s communities.”

Particularly critical are new programs created in the reauthorization of VAWA in 2005. New programs for children exposed to domestic violence and youth who are victims of physical and sexual violence were funded last year for the first time, as was a new program to engage men and youth in prevention. “We must not turn back the clock on our efforts to stop violence against women and children,” Soler added. “We have finally begun to see drops in violence against adult women, but the next generation is not faring as well. We must redouble our efforts to end this scourge once and for all.”

CDC SURVEY FINDS HEALTH PROBLEMS MORE COMMON FOR VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE

Domestic and sexual violence are pervasive and costly, and can create health problems that last a lifetime, according to a study from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, published in the February 8 issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. It finds 1,200 deaths and two million injuries to women from intimate partner violence each year, and nearly 600,000 injuries to men. Nearly one in four women reports experiencing violence by a current or former spouse or boyfriend sometime in her life.

Specifically, the survey finds that women who have experienced partner violence are at significantly greater risk for heart disease, stroke, asthma, arthritis, heavy drinking, risky sex, and for needing a cane or wheelchair than women who have not experienced partner violence – defined as threatened, attempted or completed physical violence or unwanted sex by a current or former partner.

Women who have experienced domestic violence are 80 percent more likely to have a stroke, 70 percent more likely to have heart disease, 60 percent more likely to have asthma and 70 percent more likely to drink heavily than women who have not experienced intimate partner violence (IPV).

“This is one of the largest health studies of intimate partner violence ever conducted in the U.S., and it identifies a critical gap in the delivery of health care to battered women,” said Family Violence Prevention Fund President Esta Soler. “Rarely do providers ask their patients about violence, or explain how it can affect patients’ health. That needs to change.”

“Whether IPV is followed by adverse health conditions or adverse health conditions lead to IPV, both are likely to affect the overall health of affected persons, suggesting that clinicians should consider assessing exposure to IPV when patients have signs or symptoms of stress or other conditions that are consistent with IPV,” said the editorial note. “Such assessment might influence the diagnosis, treatment plan, and ability of the patient to adhere to treatment.”

“Doctors, nurses and other health care providers can do a tremendous amount to help victims of domestic and sexual violence, but they must be trained to do so and taught the most effective interventions, both when violence is occurring and when treating the health problems that can result,” Soler agreed. “We must fund programs at the federal level to train health care providers to routinely assess patients for domestic and sexual violence.”

“Adverse Health Conditions and Health Risk Behaviors Associated with Intimate Partner Violence” is in the February 8 issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report and available at www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5705a1.htm.

NEW STATE REPORT CARDS ON TEEN DATING VIOLENCE

Break the Cycle has issued the first-ever report cards evaluating the level of legal protection each state offers young victims of domestic and dating violence. Fifteen states received a grade of “F” while only three – California, New Hampshire and Oklahoma – received grades of “A.”

States that do not allow minors to obtain protective or restraining orders, and states where dating relationships are not specifically recognized as valid relationships for obtaining restraining orders automatically failed. Of the 15 states receiving grades of “F,” 12 are automatic failures for one of those reasons.

The states receiving grades of “F” are Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin.

Positive trends include statutes or legislation that: includes various lesser offenses within the definition of abuse, making it easier for a victim to get a restraining or protective order; provides the victim with various kinds of compensation; allows minors to file a restraining or protective order without an adult’s involvement; recognizes extended family members under the group that may get a restraining or protective order on behalf of a minor; generally defines the length of a restraining or protective order for one year or longer; and allows a victim to obtain a restraining or protective order against another minor within a certain age limit.

One in three teens will experience some form of abuse in a dating relationship, and teens face overwhelming obstacles to getting help because of their limited access to money, shelter and transportation. Young women between 16 and 24 experience the highest rates of abuse.

The report “recommends that states remove any and all barriers that might prevent teens from accessing protection under the law,” and notes that even in states that received an “A” there are ways to make laws more accessible and protective of teens.

The report was issued in conjunction with “National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week” in February. The State-by-State Teen Dating Violence Report Card 2008 is available at www.breakthecycle.org/pdf/state-report-card-full-report.pdf.

NEW RESOURCE

The eighth edition of the National Directory of Domestic Violence Programs from the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence is now available. This one-of-a-kind resource connects victims, advocates and others to more than 2,000 U.S. programs providing vital services to domestic violence victims. For more information about ordering the Directory, visit http://shop.ncadv.org/main.sc.

SAVE THE DATE

February 28-29, 2008, Bethesda, MD
Summit on Violence and Abuse in Relationships: Connecting Agendas and Forging New Directions
The American Psychological Association is hosting a summit to address intimate partner violence, child maltreatment, children exposed to violence and abuse, elder abuse, and related themes at the Hyatt Regency. The focus will be on “What We Know, What We Need to Know, and Where Do We Need to Go” with respect to research, intervention, and prevention. Preliminary keynote speakers include: Arun Gandhi; Mary Koss, PhD; Jacquelyn Campbell, PhD, RN; and David Finkelhor, PhD. For more information, please visit www.reisman-white.com/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=22.

February 29, 2008 – Scholarship Applications Due
Fitting the Forum to the Family: Emerging Challenges for Family Courts
The Association of Family and Conciliation Courts is offering scholarships to its 45th annual conference on May 28 – 31 at the Westin Bayshore in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Twenty-five scholarships will be granted. More information on the scholarships and the conference itself is available at http://afccnet.org/.

March 7-8, 2008, Atlanta, GA
Domestic Violence: From Emerging Dialogue to Social Transformation, Celebrating 10 Years of United Efforts and Looking Toward the Future
The National Latino Alliance for the Elimination of Domestic Violence and Caminar Latino are holding a national conference at the Renaissance Atlanta Downtown. It is both a celebration of ten years of collaborating efforts and successes addressing domestic violence in Latino communities, and an opportunity to explore needed strategies for the next decade. For more information about the conference, visit www.dvalianza.org/home.htm.

April 10-11, 2008, Tacoma, WA
He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not
Men Against Violence at Pacific Lutheran University regional conference in Tacoma will explore men’s roles in ending violence against women. The conference will feature presentations from leading experts Dr. Sut Jhally, Ben Atherton-Zeman, Lane Judson, A Call to Men, the Men’s Network Against Domestic Violence and others. Due to space restrictions, registration will be limited to the first 200 registrants. Early registration is highly encouraged and due by March 15. For more information please visit, www.plu.edu/~mav/mav-conference/home.html.

May 12-14, 2008, Calgary, AB, Canada
Joining Together: Changes and Challenges in Child Maltreatment
The Canadian Society for the Investigation of Child Abuse is holding a conference to highlight innovations, advances and challenges in the identification, investigation and management of child maltreatment. The conference will showcase forensic investigative strategies, practice interventions and current research. More information is available at www.csicainfo.com/.