Frequently Asked Questions
Question: Describe the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence and its mission.
The California Partnership to End Domestic Violence is a statewide domestic violence coalition; we are the umbrella organization for California’s domestic violence direct service providers. Our vision as an agency is to see a California free from domestic violence. Our particular mission is to be a catalyst and advocate for social change, and to ensure safety and justice for victims and survivors of domestic violence and their children. Our agency was formed two years ago with the merger of two previous California DV coalitions: Statewide California Coalition for Battered Women and the California Alliance Against Domestic Violence.
Question: Describe what The Partnership staff members do.
We work on numerous fronts at the local, state and national level. Our staff supplies an array of support services to direct service providers around the state. These come in the form of technical support, staff training, referrals and resource coordination. Our policy team works very closely with the state legislature, and has a long track record of successfully passing over 100 pieces of legislation on behalf of battered women and their children.
Question: Are there regional offices within California? How is The Partnership organized?
Our agency offices are in Sacramento. But as the statewide coalition, we have over 100 member programs, and those span the entire state.
Question: Who are the usual victims of domestic violence?
The vast majority of domestic violence—85%—is heterosexual, male on female violence. However, domestic violence touches everyone, regardless of sex, age, economic class, race or sexual orientation.
Question: I read that many domestic violence victims never seek help. Why is that?
One of the most important reasons abuse victims may choose not to come forward is that the weeks immediately after leaving an abusive relationship are an extremely dangerous time. People tend to think that once a woman has left the abusive situation, she’s going to be safe. In fact, incidents of stalking, battering and fatal attacks increase during that time. Victims are aware of this danger—they don’t need statistics to tell them that they are taking a huge risk in seeking help.
Question: I read a statistic that domestic violence aimed at men is on the rise. Is that true?
Certainly men are reporting at a higher rate than was true in the past, as are women. We strongly believe that every victim of domestic violence should have access to the range of support service available in his or her community. But domestic violence is still overwhelmingly a problem of violence against women. Here are a few statistics that may clarify the issue. These are a compilation of stats from Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Institute of Justice and the Centers for Disease Control.
Question: Describe the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence and its mission.
The California Partnership to End Domestic Violence is a statewide domestic violence coalition; we are the umbrella organization for California’s domestic violence direct service providers. Our vision as an agency is to see a California free from domestic violence. Our particular mission is to be a catalyst and advocate for social change, and to ensure safety and justice for victims and survivors of domestic violence and their children. Our agency was formed two years ago with the merger of two previous California DV coalitions: Statewide California Coalition for Battered Women and the California Alliance Against Domestic Violence.
Question: Describe what The Partnership staff members do.
We work on numerous fronts at the local, state and national level. Our staff supplies an array of support services to direct service providers around the state. These come in the form of technical support, staff training, referrals and resource coordination. Our policy team works very closely with the state legislature, and has a long track record of successfully passing over 100 pieces of legislation on behalf of battered women and their children.
Question: Are there regional offices within California? How is The Partnership organized?
Our agency offices are in Sacramento. But as the statewide coalition, we have over 100 member programs, and those span the entire state.
Question: Who are the usual victims of domestic violence?
The vast majority of domestic violence—85%—is heterosexual, male on female violence. However, domestic violence touches everyone, regardless of sex, age, economic class, race or sexual orientation.
Question: I read that many domestic violence victims never seek help. Why is that?
One of the most important reasons abuse victims may choose not to come forward is that the weeks immediately after leaving an abusive relationship are an extremely dangerous time. People tend to think that once a woman has left the abusive situation, she’s going to be safe. In fact, incidents of stalking, battering and fatal attacks increase during that time. Victims are aware of this danger—they don’t need statistics to tell them that they are taking a huge risk in seeking help.
Question: I read a statistic that domestic violence aimed at men is on the rise. Is that true?
Certainly men are reporting at a higher rate than was true in the past, as are women. We strongly believe that every victim of domestic violence should have access to the range of support service available in his or her community. But domestic violence is still overwhelmingly a problem of violence against women. Here are a few statistics that may clarify the issue. These are a compilation of stats from Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Institute of Justice and the Centers for Disease Control.
- Women compose 84% of spouse abuse victims and 86% of victims abused by a boyfriend or girlfriend
- Nearly 75% of murder victims killed by an intimate partner are women
- While the number of male victims killed by an intimate partner fell an average of 4% per year from 1976-1998, the number of female victims fell only by an average of 1% per year.
- Be informed and educated about domestic violence—what resources are available for victims, and the people in the community who want to help stop the problem.
- Support the local shelter in your community—shelters are the safe refuge for victims and children fleeing abuse. Shelters need financial support, volunteers and community involvement.
- Violence is a learned behavior, and can be unlearned. Domestic violence is a social and public health problem that requires both individual and collective action to change social norms that tolerate violence, and thus allow perpetration and victimization.
