Passport to Progress
SAVE THE DATE
Event:Passports to Progress
Passports to Progress Join the International Center for Research on Women on the eve of International Women’s Day for its first Passports to Progress event in support of its new campaign, Turning Point: Changing the Course for Adolescent Girls Worldwide. A diverse panel of leading experts in the fields of gender, rights and development will discuss the many ways in which violence against women – especially young women and girls – in non-conflict settings has become a global epidemic.
Moderator:
Andrea Mitchell NBC Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent and host of MSNBC’S “Andrea Mitchell Reports”
Panelists:
Michael Elliott, President/CEO of ONE
Christy Turlington Burns, Founder of Every Mother Counts and Director/Producer of “No Woman, No Cry”
Stella Mukasa, Director of Gender Violence and Rights at ICRW
Ravi Verma, Regional Director, Asia at ICRW
With a special video presentation by Kavita Ramdas, Ford Foundation’s Regional Representative in New Delhi.
When: Thursday, March 7, 2013 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Where: National Press Club, 529 14th St. NW, 13th Floor, Washington, DC 20045
This event is free to attend, but registration is required.
Talking about “Trauma Recovery and Empowerment: A Clinician’s Guide for Working with Women in Groups”
Much like Ginny NiCarthy’s books “Getting Free” and more recently “You Can End Abuse and Take Back Your Life”, “Trauma Recovery and Empowerment: A Clinician’s Guide for Working with Women in Groups” by Maxine Harris, PhD is a must read for clinicians working with women that have experienced trauma. In the case of Maxine Harris’ book the women may have experienced various forms of trauma including but not limited to domestic violence.
Here’s what others are saying about Trauma Recovery and Empowerment: A Clinician’s Guide for Working with Women in Groups” by Maxine Harris, PhD.
“….I strongly recommend this book and the TREM program for anyone working in community counseling who has clients with a wide variety of needs and little time or resources to create programs to meet everyone’s needs. TREM is a gift to the clients but also a gift to busy counselors and understaffed agencies….”
“…I believe TREM is an invaluable resource. I have a wonderful series of group sessions set out that require a minimum of preparation. The clients in the TREM group can address their concerns in a safe setting. The agency I work for is able to serve many women at once who would receive no trauma counseling if we didn’t have the TREM group. Ideally, it would be best for each woman to have unlimited one on one counseling to address trauma, but that won’t happen because of time and funding and staffing. So TREM is a winning option for everyone. ..”
Source(s): Trauma Recovery and Empowerment: A Clinician’s Guide for Working with Women in Groups. Amazon.
Photo credit: Microsoft Clip Art
What does economic autonomy have to do with domestic violence?
Domestic violence continues to pose a clear and present danger to the health and well-being of countless victims. An important factor to consider when pondering the question why doesn’t the victim leave is her/his economic ability to live independently. Studies indicate that one of the best predictors of whether a victim will be able to stay away from her abuser is her degree of economic independence. However, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking often negatively impacts victims’ ability to maintain employment.
Abusers often seek to exert financial control their partners by actively interfering with their ability to work, including preventing their partners from going to work, harassing their partners at work, limiting the access of their partners to cash or transportation, and sabotaging the child care arrangements of their partners. [2] Studies indicate that between 35 and 56 percent of employed battered women surveyed were harassed at work by their abusive partners. [3]
Victims of domestic violence also often miss work due to injuries, court dates, and safety concerns requiring legal protections. Victims of intimate partner violence lose 8,000,000 days of paid work each year–the equivalent of over 32,000 full-time jobs and 5,600,000 days of household productivity.[4] According to a 1998 report of the General Accounting Office, between 1/4 and 1/2 of domestic violence victims surveyed in 3 studies reported that they lost a job due, at least in part, to domestic violence.[5] Women who have experienced domestic violence or dating violence are more likely than other women to be unemployed, to suffer from health problems that can affect employability and job performance, to report lower personal income, and to rely on welfare.[6]
Domestic violence also affects perpetrators’ ability to work. A recent study found that 48% of abusers reported having difficulty concentrating at work and 42% reported being late to work. Seventy-eight ( 78) percent reported using their own company’s resources in connection with the abusive relationship. More than 35 percent of stalking victims report losing time from work due to the stalking [11] and 7 percent never return to work. [12] The Bureau of National Affairs has estimated that domestic violence costs United States employers between $3,000,000,000 and $5,000,000,000 annually in lost time and productivity, while other reports have estimated the cost at between $5,800,000,000 and $13,000,000,000 annually. [13]
United States medical costs for domestic violence have been estimated to be 1,000,000,000 per year.[14] Ninety-four percent of corporate security and safety directors at companies nationwide rank domestic violence as a high security concern.[15] Already, 25 States and the District of Columbia have laws that explicitly provide unemployment insurance to domestic violence victims in certain circumstances; however, these laws vary in the extent to which they effectively address the special circumstances of victims of domestic violence and very few of the laws explicitly cover victims of sexual assault or stalking.[16]
Five States provide victims of domestic or sexual violence with leave from work to go to court, to the doctor, or to take other steps to address the violence in their lives, and several other States provide time off to victims of crimes, which can include victims of domestic and sexual violence, to attend court proceedings. However, many States have no employment-protected leave provisions that allow victims of domestic or sexual violence to take the time off they need to address the violence. [17] Domestic violence victims and third parties who help them have been subjected to discriminatory practices by health, life, disability, and property and casualty insurers and employers who self-insure employee benefits who have denied or canceled coverage, rejected claims, and raised rates based on domestic violence.
Although some State legislatures have tried to address these problems, the scope of protection afforded by the laws adopted varies from State to State, with many failing to address the problem comprehensively. Moreover, Federal law prevents States from protecting the almost 40 percent of employees whose employers self-insure employee benefits.
Sources: Listed below in the footnote section. Photo credit: Microsoft Clip Art
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1. EVAN STARK & ANNE FLITCRAFT, WOMEN AT RISK: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND WOMEN’S HEALTH xvii, 10, 202 (1996).
2. JODY RAPHAEL & RICHARD M. TOLMAN, TRAPPED IN POVERTY, TRAPPED BY ABUSE: NEW EVIDENCE DOCUMENTING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND WELFARE (1997).
3. U.S. GEN. ACCT. OFFICE, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVALENCE AND IMPLICATIONS FOR EMPLOYMENT AMONG WELFARE RECIPIENTS 19 (Nov. 1998).
4. Costs of Intimate Partner Violence Against Women in the United States, Atlanta: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2003.
5. U.S. GEN. ACCT. OFFICE, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVALENCE AND IMPLICATIONS FOR EMPLOYMENT AMONG WELFARE RECIPIENTS 19 (NOV. 1998).
6. DETIS T. DUHART, U.S. DEP’T OF JUSTICE, VIOLENCE IN THE WORKFORCE, 1993-1999 2 (DECEMBER 2001).
7. GREG WARCHOL, U.S. DEP’T OF JUSTICE, WORKPLACE VIOLENCE, 1992-96 2 (July 1998).
8. DETIS T. DUHART, U.S. DEP’T OF JUSTICE, VIOLENCE IN THE WORKFORCE, 1993-1999 2 (DECEMBER 2001).
9. GREG WARCHOL, U.S. DEP’T OF JUSTICE, WORKPLACE VIOLENCE, 1992-96 4 (July 1998).
10. E. Ellis, B. Atkeson and K. Calhoun, An Assessment of the Long Term Reaction to Rape, 50 J. ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY No. 3, 264 (1981).
11. Costs of Intimate Partner Violence Against Women in the United States, Atlanta: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2003.
12. PATRICIA T JADEN & NANCY THOENNES, NAT’L INST. OF JUST. & CTRS. FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, STALKING IN AMERICA: FINDINGS FROM THE NATIONAL VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN SURVEY 11 (April 1998). PATRICIA TJADEN & NANCY THOENNES, NAT’L INST. OF JUST. & CTRS. FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, STALKING IN AMERICA: FINDINGS FROM THE NATIONAL VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN SURVEY 11 (April 1998).
13. Joan Zorza, Women Battering: High Costs and the State of the Law, CLEARINGHOUSE REV., Vol. 28, No. 4, 383, 385 (1994); National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Costs of Intimate Partner Violence Against Women in the United States, Atlanta: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2003.; “Intimate Violence Costs Billions,” ABC News, 4/29/2003.
14. Joan Zorza, Women Battering: High Costs and the State of the Law, LEARINGHOUSE REV., Vol. 28, No. 4, 383, 385 (1994).
15. JOSEPH A. KINNEY, NAT’L SAFE WORKPLACE INST., DOMESTIC VIOLENCE MOVES INTO WORKPLACE (1994).
16. NOW LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATION FUND, VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN FACT SHEETS ON STATE LAWS: UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, ( at http://www.nowldef.org/html/issues/vio/laws-ui.shtml (April 1, 2003 (states include California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming); State Net 2003 Bill Tracking HI S.B. 931 (Hawaii Governor signed law on 5/19/2003); State Net 2003 Bill Tracking MT S.B. 180 (Montana Governor signed provision on 4/14/2003 to make law permanent); StateNet 2003 Bill Tracking IL H.B. 3486 (passed both Houses 6/1/03) ) (Please note: Legal Momentum is the new name of NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund. The new link to the fact sheet is http://www.legalmomentum.org/issues/vio/ui.pdf)
17. NOW LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATION FUND, VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN FACT SHEETS ON STATE LAWS: UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, ( at http://www.nowldef.org/html/issues/vio/laws-ui.shtml (April 1, 2003 (states include California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming).
A Sin and A Shame
Given their sacrifices for our nation, the number of veterans that are either homeless or at risk of homelessness is as my grandmother would say “a sin and a shame”. Here in the United Sates there approximately 1.5 million veterans that are at risk of homelessness due to poverty, lack of support networks, and dismal living conditions in overcrowded or substandard housing. According to the Departments of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Veterans Affairs (VA) there are over 67,000 homeless veterans on any given night.[i] Over the course of a year, approximately twice that many experience homelessness.[ii] Only eight percent of the general population can claim veteran status, but nearly one-fifth of the homeless population are veterans.[iii]
Why are veterans homeless?
In addition to the complex set of factors influencing all homelessness – extreme shortage of affordable housing, livable income and access to health care – a large number of displaced and at-risk veterans live with lingering effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance abuse, which are compounded by a lack of family and social support networks.[iv]
A top priority for homeless veterans is secure, safe, clean housing that offers a supportive environment free of drugs and alcohol. Although “most homeless people are single, unaffiliated men… most housing money in existing federal homelessness programs, in contrast, is devoted to helping homeless families or homeless women with dependent children,” as is stated in the study “Is Homelessness a Housing Problem?”[v] (Understanding Homelessness: New Policy and Research Perspectives, Fannie Mae Foundation, 1997).
What services do veterans need?
Like most homeless persons, veterans need a coordinated effort that provides secure housing, nutritional meals, basic physical health care, substance abuse care and aftercare, mental health counseling, personal development and empowerment. Additionally, veterans need job assessment, training and placement assistance. Service providers assert that all programs to assist homeless veterans must focus on helping them obtain and sustain employment.
What can you do to help homeless veterans?
- Determine the need in your community. Visit with homeless veteran providers. Contact your mayor’s office for a list of providers, or search the National Coalition for the Homeless.
- Engage Friends/Family: Involve others. If you are not already part of an organization, align yourself with a few other people who are interested in attacking this issue.
- Help: Participate in local homeless coalitions. Chances are, there is one in your community. If not, this could be the time to bring people together around this critical need.
- Donate: Make a donation to your local homeless veteran provider.
- Advocate: Contact your elected officials. Discuss what is being done in your community for homeless veterans.
Pending Legislation in the 112th Congress
United States House of Representatives
H.R. 136 – To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow taxpayers to designate a portion of their income tax payment to provide assistance to homeless veterans, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY)
Status: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, in addition to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (Jan. 1, 2011)
- Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow individual taxpayers to designate on their tax returns $3 of income taxes ($6 in the case of joint returns) to provide assistance to homeless veterans.
H.R. 287 – Homes for Heroes Act of 2011
Sponsor: Rep. Al Green (D-TX)
Status: Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means (Jan. 12, 2011)
- Expands the supply of supportive housing for very low-income veteran families.
- Authorizes an annual budget increase needed to provide 20,000 additional rental vouchers each fiscal year.
- Extends VA-supported housing, which is currently limited to homeless veterans with chronic mental illness or chronic substance use disorders, to all homeless veterans.
H.R. 806 – End Veteran Homelessness Act of 2011
Sponsor: Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA)
Status: Referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (Feb. 18, 2011)
- Increases GPD authorization to $200 million in FY 2011.
- Changes GPD reimbursement from a “per diem” to an annual cost of providing services.
- Requires each VA medical center providing case management services through the HUD-VASH program to hire a specialist to handle housing issues, including:
- Outreach to landlords.
- Mediation of veteran/landlord disputes.
- Establishing and maintaining a list of available rental units.
- Authorizes $100 million by FY 2014 for supportive services for very low-income veteran families in permanent housing.
- Promotes awareness of VA programs to assist homeless women veterans and homeless veterans with children.
H.R. 1133 – Helping Our Homeless Veterans Act of 2011
Sponsor: Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA)
Status: Referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Subcommittee on Health (April 1, 2011), as well as the Committee on Financial Services, Subcommittee on Insurance, Housing and Community Opportunity (April 4, 2011)
- Authorizes VA to enter into agreements with organizations to collaborate in the provision of case management services to veterans in the HUD-VASH program.
H.R. 4287 – To expand the definition of homeless veteran for purposes of benefits under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Sponsor: Rep. Janice Hahn (D-CA)
Action: Referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (March 28, 2012)
- Expands VA’s definition of “homeless veteran” – for the purpose of benefits eligibility – to include a veteran of veteran’s family fleeing domestic or dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or other dangerous or life-threatening conditions in the current housing situation, including where the health and safety of children are jeopardized, there is no other residence, and there is a lack of resources or support networks to obtain other permanent housing.
United States Senate
S. 411 – Helping Our Homeless Veterans Act of 2011
Sponsor: Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Status: Referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (Feb. 17, 2011)
- Authorizes VA to enter into agreements with organizations to collaborate in the provision of case management services to veterans in the HUD-VASH program.
S. 1060 – Honoring All Veterans Act of 2011
Sponsor: Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
Action: Hearing held by Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (June 8, 2011)
- Changes GPD reimbursement from a “per diem” to an annual cost of providing services.
- Extends enhanced protections for service members relating to mortgages and mortgage foreclosure.
S. 1148 – Veterans Programs Improvement Act of 2011
Sponsor: Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA)
Action: Hearing held by Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (June 8, 2011)
Reauthorizes critical programs such as the following:
- DOL-VETS Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP).
- VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program (GPD), as well as the related Special Needs grant program.
- VA Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Program.
- Orders VA to study and restructure the GPD reimbursement rate.
- Expands the VA Special Needs grant program to include male homeless veterans with minor dependents, as well as allowing dependents of all veterans in those programs to receive services directly.
S. 3049 – To expand the definition of homeless veteran for purposes of benefits under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Sponsor: Sen. Mark Begich (D-AK)
Action: Referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (May 9, 2012)
- Expands VA’s definition of “homeless veteran” – for the purpose of benefits eligibility – to include a veteran of veteran’s family fleeing domestic or dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or other dangerous or life-threatening conditions in the current housing situation, including where the health and safety of children are jeopardized, there is no other residence, and there is a lack of resources or support networks to obtain other permanent housing.
Source(s): www.govtrack.us. http://www.congress.org. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), National Coalition for Homeless Veterans. Understanding Homelessness: New Policy and Research Perspectives, Fannie Mae Foundation, 1997).
Photo Credit: Microsoft Clip Art
Honor the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,
Each January, countless people across the nation honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., with a Day of Service. Join volunteers across our nation giving countless community service hours as Dr. King’s legacy continues to empower individuals to eradicate injustice.
Each year, volunteers of all ages come together to address problems through service projects that help strengthen our community. Having witnessed how budget cuts potentially threaten the non-profit sector, my aim with this post is to raise awareness of the importance of volunteerism and deepen service engagement by children, youth, and families. Investing individual time and talent is an excellent way to keep the spirit of Dr. King alive. There are countless volunteer opportunities in our community that would be both family-friendly and allow for completion in shorter blocks of time.
Consider volunteering on the upcoming national Day of Service held in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Join hundreds of thousands volunteers giving countless hours as Dr. King’s legacy continues to empower individuals to eradicate injustice.
Photo credit: Microsoft Clip Art.
World AIDS Day
World AIDS Day is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV. December 1 is World AIDS Day. Only 28 percent of the 1.2 million Americans living with HIV have the infection under control, increasing the risk that they will spread the disease to others, U.S. health officials said Tuesday. One in five U.S. adults infected with HIV are not aware that they have the virus. For years, people can be infected with the AIDS virus without manifesting symptoms. Of those who are aware, only half receive ongoing medical care and treatment for the illness, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in its latest report on HIV in America.
Fortunately, HIV/AIDS is preventable. Nevertheless, each year, HIV/AIDS continues to destroy countless lives. HIV/AIDS takes the greatest toll among African-Americans, Latinos and MSM of all races. The rate of new infections among blacks is seven times the rate among whites. Among Hispanics, the rate of new HIV infections is three times as high as that among whites. And according to a recent CDC analysis, the HIV diagnosis rate among MSM is forty-four (44) times that of other men.
One out of four HIV cases in our nation are among women and girls, thirteen years of age and older; and two out of three of these women and girls are African-American. “Socioeconomic and cultural factors—including poverty, discrimination, and inadequate access to health care, among others—often render black women more vulnerable to HIV than other racial/ethnic groups. Many women of color are paralyzed by fear—of being stigmatized, of abandonment by their partners, and of deportation by immigration authorities. Fear of being stigmatized by HIV/AIDS appears to have at least some relationship to people’s decisions about whether or not to get tested for HIV. But most important for women of color who are often the family caregiver and breadwinner, they are afraid of their families’ reactions to either their HIV status or disclosure of sexual orientation. What we know about the social and cultural impact on Black women’s lives is that HIV-related stigma and denial regarding how the disease is spread, particularly among self-identified heterosexuals who are positive, and stigmatization about the disease remains an enormous barrier to effectively fighting the epidemic.”
Given these grim statistics, this pressing public health issue challenges each of us to be “our sisters’ keepers.” This World AIDS Day, you can choose to make a difference in the lives of others. Toward that end, take action in the fight against HIV and raise awareness of its impact on women and girls. Get tested. Encourage every female within your sphere of influence to be tested for HIV/AIDS. Additionally, you can plan or support HIV prevention efforts in your community.
With an equal amount of conscience, mind, heart, and collective action, each of us can educate members of our community about the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the importance of knowing your HIV status. For further information about HIV/AIDS, visit the Centers for Disease Control’s website at http://www.cdc.gov.
Source(s): Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), HIV Surveillance Report: Diagnoses of HIV infection and AIDS in the United States and Dependent Areas, 2009.; Evaluate website. Act Against AIDS Leadership Initiative (AAALI). MSNBC.com, “Few Americans With HIV Have Virus Under Control”, November 29, 2011.
Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Reauthorization
Not all homes provide a safe haven. For the victims of domestic violence, home is a place where hearts and lives are broken. Family violence spares no one. The partner who is battered and the children who watch, or who themselves may be abused, all suffer. Their physical and emotional pain is long-lasting.
Domestic violence continues to pose a clear and present danger to the health and well-being of women. For far too many women violence and danger are their constant companions. Yet, domestic violence is a subject that we, as a society, are reluctant to talk about. As a result, victims often suffer and die in silence. And despite the intense media attention recently focused on a few high profile courtroom cases, the public remains largely uninformed about the nature and warning signs of domestic violence.
Until recently, domestic violence was viewed as a “private family matter” as opposed to a crime against society with potentially lethal consequences. Increasingly our public institutions—law enforcement, the courts, policy makers, health care providers, and social service providers—are recognizing incidents of domestic violence as violent criminal acts with devastating consequences for individual victims, their children, and the community, and are seeking effective methods for dealing with this pressing public health issue. Community support and involvement are integral parts of domestic violence prevention and intervention. The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) has provided funding for much needed supportive programs for victims of domestic violence.
The National Task to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Against Women in its recent action alert reminds us that the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) is due for reauthorization. It has been reported that Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Mike Crapo (R-ID), will introduce a bipartisan bill on Wednesday, November 30, 2011, to reauthorize and improve VAWA. In its action alert, the National Task Force indicates that it has worked closely with them on “…the bill to ensure that it will not only continue proven effective programs, but that it will make key changes to streamline VAWA and make sure that even more people have access to safety, stability and justice.”
The National Task to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Against Women reminds us that it is important to get the Senators on the list below excited about VAWA and to get their support for the bill. With that said, if you live in any of the states listed below, please call your Senator(s) TODAY and ask for them to be original co-sponsors of VAWA. It is critical to VAWA’s reauthorization to get and keep our elected officials telephones ringing.
To assist you in placing your call, the National Task to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Against Women’s action alert provides the following talking points and contact information for your elected officials in Washington, DC.
“Talking points:
We know that Senator _________ cares about ending domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking.
The Violence Against Women Act is critical to our ability to address these crimes in our state.
There is evidence showing that VAWA has saved millions of dollars and countless lives.
We are asking for you to be an original co-sponsor of the Leahy/Crapo bill that will be introduced on Wednesday.
Please contact Anya McMurray or Noah Bookbinder at (202)224-7703 to sign on to the bill.”
Alabama
Sessions, Jeff – (202) 224-4124
Shelby, Richard – (202) 224-5744
Arkansas
Boozman, John – (202) 224-4843
Alaska
Murkowski, Lisa – (202) 224-6665
Arizona
McCain, John – (202) 224-2235
Kyl, Jon – (202) 224-4521
Florida
Rubio, Marco – (202) 224-3041
Georgia
Chambliss, Saxby – (202) 224-3521
Isakson, Johnny – (202) 224-3643
Idaho
Crapo, Mike – (202) 224-6142 – (thank him!)
Risch, James – (202) 224-2752
Illinois
Kirk, Mark – (202) 224-2854
Indiana
Lugar, Richard – (202) 224-4814
Coats, Daniel – (202) 224-5623
Iowa
Grassley, Chuck – (202) 224-3744
Louisiana
Vitter, David – (202) 224-4623
Kansas
Moran, Jerry – (202) 224-6521
Roberts, Pat – (202) 224-4774
Kentucky
McConnell, Mitch – (202) 224-2541
Paul, Rand – (202) 224-4343
Maine
Collins, Susan – (202) 224-2523
Snowe, Olympia – (202) 224-5344
Massachusetts
Brown, Scott – (202) 224-4543
Mississippi
Cochran, Thad – (202) 224-5054
Wicker, Roger – (202) 224-6253
Missouri
Blunt, Roy – (202) 224-5721
Nebraska
Johanns, Mike – (202) 224-4224
Nevada
Heller, Dean – (202) 224-6244
New Hampshire
Ayotte, Kelly – (202) 224-3324
North Carolina
Burr, Richard – (202) 224-3154
North Dakota
Hoeven, John – (202) 224-2551
Ohio
Portman, Rob – (202) 224-3353
Oklahoma
Coburn, Tom – (202) 224-5754
Inhofe, James – (202) 224-4721
Pennsylvania
Toomey, Patrick – (202) 224-4254
South Carolina
DeMint, Jim – (202) 224-6121
Graham, Lindsey – (202) 224-5972
South Dakota
Thune, John – (202) 224-2321
Tennessee
Alexander, Lamar – (202) 224-4944
Corker, Bob – (202) 224-3344
Texas
Cornyn, John – (202) 224-2934
Hutchison, Kay Bailey – (202) 224-5922
Utah
Hatch, Orrin – (202) 224-5251
Lee, Mike – (202) 224-5444
Wisconsin
Johnson, Ron – (202) 224-5323
Wyoming
Enzi, Michael – (202) 224-3424
Barrasso, John – (202) 224-6441
Please join me in contacting our elected officials to remind them of the importance of reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). With an equal amount of conscience, mind, heart, and collective action, we can eradicate domestic violence.
Source(s): National Task to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Against Women
Photo Credit: Microsoft Clip Art
National Domestic Violence Awareness Month
October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM). In recognition of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, this blog post seeks to: raise awareness about the prevalence of this pressing public health issue; delineate steps you can take to support a victim of domestic violence; and provide you with a course of action to help eradicate domestic violence.
For far too many women violence and danger are their constant companions. Despite concerted efforts to eradicate domestic violence, data indicates that intimate partner violence continues to pose a clear and present danger to the health and well-being of countless persons. Social science research indicates that one (1) in four (4) women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime. [i] Indigent women are more vulnerable.
On average, more than three (3) women a day are murdered by their intimate partners in our country [ii]. Annually, women experience an estimated two (2) million women injuries resulting from an abusive relationship.[iii] Women who are between the ages of 20-24 years old are at the greatest risk of nonfatal intimate partner violence.[iv] Research indicates that most incidents of domestic violence are not reported to the police. [v] The dearth of safe, decent, affordable housing causes many poor women to confront the unenviable choice of homelessness or remaining in a home plagued by violence and turmoil resulting from domestic violence.
If someone you know is being abused, the National Domestic Violence Hotline recommends that you do the following:
Listen to the victim. Tell the victim, “I believe you.”
Acknowledge the abuse and that the behavior is inappropriate. Tell the victim, “No one deserves to be abused.”
Respect the victim’s choices. Tell the victim, “It’s important for you to make decisions that are best for you.”
Be supportive—if the victim wants to file a police report and/or a restraining order offer to accompany them. Tell the victim, “You are NOT alone.”
Provide encouragement to the victim that might be feeling hopeless. Tell the victim, “The National Domestic Violence Hotline is anonymous and confidential and provides information and referrals. The telephone number for the National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-7233. You could call them for help.”
Domestic violence thrives on apathy and ignorance. It can be eradicated with an equal amount of conscience, mind, heart, and collective action. According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, here is a list of additional ways that you can help eradicate domestic: share domestic violence resources with a victim of abuse; volunteer at a domestic violence agency; speak out against domestic violence; donate money and/or items to your local domestic violence organization; donate your old cell telephone and its accessories via Verizon Wireless’ HopeLine; and encourage your community to support domestic violence services as well as hold perpetrators accountable for their illegal behavior.
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[i] Tjaden, Patricia & Thoennes, Nancy, National Institute of Justice and the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, 1993, “Extent, Nature and Consequences of Intimate Partner Violence: Findings from the National Violence Against Women Survey,” (2000).
[ii] U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Intimate Partner Violence in the United States, December 2006.
[iii] CDC. Adverse Health Conditions & Health Risk: Behaviors Associated with Intimate Partner Violence. 2008. Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report, February 8, 2008.
[iv] U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Intimate Partner Violence in the United States, December 2006.
[v] Frieze, I.H., Browne, A. (1989). Violence in Marriage. In L.E. Ohlin & M.H. Tonry (eds.) Family Violence, Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.
Sources: Listed above including but not limited to the National Domestic Violence Hotline. Photo credit: Microsoft Clip Art
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Cancer still attacks 10,000,000 people per year worldwide. Annually, 1.3 million Americans are diagnosed with cancer and nearly 555,000 people will die in our nation this year alone. According to the CDC, breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women.
In 2006 (the most recent year numbers are available)—
• 191,410 women were diagnosed with breast cancer.*†
• 40,820 women died from breast cancer.*†
If you are concerned about developing breast cancer, or if you know someone who has been diagnosed with the disease, one way to deal with your concerns is to gather as much information as is available. For more information, you can visit the websites for: American Cancer Society, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , and the National Cancer Institute.
†Source: U.S. Cancer Statistics Working Group. United States Cancer Statistics: 1999–2006 Incidence and Mortality Web-based Report. Atlanta (GA): Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and National Cancer Institute; 2010. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/uscs.
*Note: Incidence counts cover about 96% of the U.S. population and death counts cover 100% of the U.S. population. Use caution in comparing incidence and death counts.Photo Credit Microsoft Clip
You Can Save Someone’s Life
October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. In preparation for this important month, we will highlight the dynamics of domestic violence and prevalence of violence against women not only nationally, but internationally as well.
Even today, domestic violence poses a clear and present danger for countless women. Verizon has an on-going campaign to collect used cell phones and their accessories to either refurbish or recycle these electronics. In addition to a refurbished cell phone, three thousand (3,000) minutes of wireless service are provided to victims of domestic violence free of charge by Verizon.
For many women, violence and danger are their constant companions. Research indicates that one in four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime. [i] Sadly, indigent women are more vulnerable. As woman rebuild their lives, the refurbished cell phones serve as a link to supportive services in a time of crisis.
The pervasive problem of domestic violence takes everyone to make it stop. Consider donating your used cell phone— you could possibly save someone’s life. For information about Verizon’s cell phone donation process visit: http://aboutus.vzw.com/communityservice/hopeLine.html.
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Sources: [i] Tjaden, Patricia & Thoennes, Nancy, National Institute of Justice and the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, 1993, “Extent, Nature and Consequences of Intimate Partner Violence: Findings from the National Violence Against Women Survey,” (2000). Hopeline
Photo Credit: Microsoft Clip Art
