October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Domestic violence thrives when we are silent; but if we take a stand and work together, we can end domestic violence. Throughout the month of October, help NNEDV to raise awareness about domestic violence and join in our efforts to end violence.  Here is what you can do:

• Like NNEDV on Facebook and share our 31n31 facts about domestic violence every day.
• Replace your Facebook profile and cover images with NNEDV's images to show that you stand with NNEDV as we remember those who have lost their lives and celebrate those who have survived.
• Read and share NNEDV's weekly blog series.  A new blog will be posted every Monday morning throughout the month of October.
• Make a donation to NNEDV in honor of the women in your life who have been impacted by domestic violence.

Technology helps victims and their children successfully flee violent batterers, stalkers and rapists. But  what millions don't realize is the dangerous and potentially lethal sides of various technologies in the hands of abusers and perpetrators.  NNEDV's Safety Net: Safe & Strategic Technology Project addresses how technology impacts the safety, privacy, accessibility, and civil rights of victims by:

• Educating victims, their advocates and the general public on ways to use technology strategically to help find safety and escape domestic violence, dating violence, sexual violence, stalking and abuse;
  • We have two dozen handouts, many in multiple languages at: Technology Safety Resources
• Training law enforcement, social services, coordinated community response teams and others how to hold perpetrators accountable for misusing technology to impersonate, harass, stalk, surveil, and threaten.
• Advocating for strong local, state, national and international policies and practices that ensure the safety, privacy and civil rights of all victims and survivors.

NNEDV's Safety Net Project addresses how technology can be harnessed successfully to do effective outreach, intervention, and violence prevention work.

Since 2002, the Safety Net Project has trained more than 50,000 advocates, police, prosecutors and others.  Read more

Selected News:

NNEDV's Census Project runs the U.S. National Census of Domestic Violence Services (Census). This is an annual noninvasive, unduplicated count of adults and children who seek services from U.S. domestic violence shelter programs during a single 24-hour survey period. Conducted by NNEDV, this Census takes into account the dangerous nature of domestic violence by using a survey designed to protect the confidentiality and safety of victims.

Census 2011:

• The 6th annual Domestic Violence Counts Census Day was held on Wednesday, September 15, 2011.  89 percent of local domestic violence programs across the United States submitted data.  The survey results are highlighted in NNEDV's report: Domestic Violence Counts: 2011. A 24-hour census of domestic violence services.

Census 2010:

• The 5th annual Domestic Violence Counts Census Day was held on Wednesday, September 15, 2010. 91 percent of local domestic violence programs across the United States submitted data.  The survey results were released January 27, 2011, and are highlighted in the NNEDV report: Domestic Violence Counts: 2010. A 24-hour census of domestic violence shelters and services.

Census 2009:

• The fourth annual Census survey was held on Tuesday, September 15, 2009. 83 percent of local domestic violence programs across the U.S. submitted data. The survey results were released March 8, 2010, International Women's Day, and are highlighted in the NNEDV report: Domestic Violence Counts: 2009. A 24-hour census of domestic violence shelters and services.

Census 2008:

• The third annual Census was conducted on September 17, 2008. The results are highlighted in the NNEDV report: Domestic Violence Counts: 08. A 24-hour census of domestic violence shelters and services.

Census 2007:

• The second annual Census was conducted on September 25, 2007. The results are highlighted in the NNEDV report: Domestic Violence Counts: 07. A 24-hour census of domestic violence shelters and services across the United States.

Census 2006:

• After developing and piloting the survey tool in May 2006, NNEDV conducted its first national Census on November 2, 2006. The results are highlighted in the NNEDV report: Domestic Violence Counts. A 24-hour census of domestic violence shelters and services across the United States.

Census Methodology and Understanding the Data:

• The “snapshot” methodology provides an unduplicated count because a victim is unlikely to access services at more than one domestic violence program during a 24-hour period. But does this mean that 65,321 people were victims of domestic violence on the day of the count? Or, since this count was only on one day. Can I multiply it by 365 and get an average estimate of the number of victims who sought services in a year? Read More...

NNEDV’s Economic Justice Project works to strengthen victim advocates’ financial capabilities to better assist survivors of domestic violence move from short-term safety to long-term security, and to an economically sustainable independent life.  NNEDV's Economic Justice Project employs its signature “train-the-trainer” approach to deliver financial literacy lessons to victim advocates across the U.S.  NNEDV's Economic Justice Project also uses its exclusive listservs and newsletter to inform victim advocates about personal finance tools, resources, and the most recent research available in the field of financial literacy and capability.

Economic Justice Technical Assistance & Online Resource Platform:

NNEDV’s Economic Justice Project delivers financial literacy and economic justice resources and information to its members and the general public via NNEDV's website, exclusive listservs, webinars, presentations and one-one-one technical assistance. The Economic Justice Project also compiles and organizes relevant research on a wide-range of financial literacy topics; and engages in a variety of outreach activities to help give survivors a voice with financial education stakeholders at the national level. This project is greatly enhanced through the ongoing commitment of dedicated partners that support projects to end domestic violence, and to empower survivors with the financial education and economic tools and resources they need to achieve financial independence.

NNEDV's Economic Justice Partnership with The Allstate Foundation:

In partnership with The Allstate Foundation and the U.S. state and territorial coalitions against domestic violence, NNEDV’s Economic Justice Project delivers financial literacy information with tools like the Moving Ahead Through Financial Management curriculum, webinars, and grants that support economic justice and empowerment programs for survivors of abuse. 

Since 2005 NNEDV’s Economic Justice Project has coordinated and provided technical assistance for the following Allstate Foundation grant programs:

• The Moving Ahead Through Financial Management Curriculum Grant Program provides curriculum materials and funding support to state coalitions that work with local programs to train advocates in their state.  To date, more than 600 domestic violence victim advocates have been trained to teach survivors financial skills, and thousands of survivors are using this resource nationwide.
• The Moving Ahead Economic Empowerment Grant Program has awarded over $2.3 million to state-wide coalitions against domestic violence to help survivors become economically independent from their abusers and to research domestic violence and economic abuse to support new services.  Grant focus areas include matched savings programs, financial education, micro-enterprise and job readiness programs.

Read more about the exciting partnership with NNEDV and the Allstate Foundation Economic Empowerment for Domestic Violence Survivors Program.

Recent News:

NNEDV's Domestic Violence Counts: National Census of Domestic Violence Services (Census) is an annual noninvasive, unduplicated count of adults and children who seek services from U.S. domestic violence shelter programs during a single 24-hour survey period. Conducted annually by NNEDV since 2006, this Census takes into account the dangerous nature of domestic violence by using a survey designed to protect the confidentiality and safety of victims.

Read Reports: 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006

In our work to end violence, NNEDV provides trainings and resources about domestic violence for communities, advocates and victims including tips, statistics, answers to frequently asked questions, and other public awareness resources about issues impacting victims and their children.

• Get Help
  If you think you are being abused, you can get help. No one ever deserves to be abused. Read about some signs and red flags of abuse. Learn more about different types of abuse. There are places you can contact for support and safety planning steps you may want to consider. Read safety tips about computer and internet use. If you are being abused, you deserve support and safety.
• Frequently Asked Questions About Domestic Violence   [PDF file]
  What is domestic violence? What resources are available for victims? Why do some victims return to or stay with abusers? Do abusers show any potential warning signs? Is it possible for abusers to change? Are men victims of domestic violence? What can I do to help?
• Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Factsheet
  Highlights incidence, prevalence, and severity, impacts on children and youth, economic costs, progress made and the overwhelming needs that remain.
• The Impact of the Economy on Domestic Violence
  Although an economic downturn itself does not cause domestic violence, it can exacerbate the factors that contribute to domestic violence and reduce victims’ ability to flee.
• Domestic Violence Counts: National Census of Domestic Violence Services
  Started in 2006, this is NNEDV's annual noninvasive, unduplicated count of adults and children who seek services from U.S. domestic violence shelter programs during a single 24-hour survey period.
• Domestic Violence Shelters and the United States Census 2010
  The 2010 U.S. Census is coming in March 2010. Learn more about ways a survivor living in a domestic violence shelter can participate confidentially.
• WomensLaw.org

    Legal information writing in plain language for every state, territory and federal laws.

NNEDV collaborates closely with other national and international organizations that have great resources for statistics and awareness materials. Here are a few examples::

United States:

• U.S. National Resource Center on Domestic Violence:
  Browse NRCDV's Online Publications including applied research papers, factsheets, and information packets on statistics and more.
• U.S. National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence:
  Search their resource collection of publications and related links by topic.
• U.S. National Center for Victims of Crime and NCVC's Stalking Resource Center:
  Check out their resource library.
• U.S. National Sexual Violence Resource Center:
  Search their publications by topic or type (e.g. factsheet, toolkit) for online and print resources.