The Problem
Domestic violence is a problem of epidemic proportions.
*Approximately three women in this country are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends every day. Of these, most are killed within two weeks of leaving the batterer.
*One in three women report being in an abusive relationship sometime in their life.
*Two-thirds of the residents in battered women’s shelters are children.
*Men wh
o are physically violent toward their partners are likely to use violence toward children as well. The health effects of domestic violence are devastating. Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women in the15-44 age range. In the United States, approximately two million injuries are sustained by women and 580,000 injuries are sustained by men due to domestic violence each year. Additionally, people experiencing domestic violence are more likely to have a wide range of physical and mental health problems. The rate of depression in victims of domestic violence is twice as high as the rate of depression of non-victims. Domestic violence affects families at all socio-economic levels, all education levels, all religions, and all ethnicities. Its impact on individual families is enormous and devastating but the impact on the community as a whole is equally devastating. It is a serious, widespread health and safety issue and must be treated as such. Although victims are at increased risk of injury when trying to leave their batterer, they are safe only if they are able to successfully do so. Counseling, crisis shelters, and transitional living and employment programs are important support systems that women and children need to escape the hold of domestic violence. The Domestic Violence Center (DVC) of Santa Clarita Valley provides these support systems and does so in a cost effective, fiscally sound manner.
