COMMUNITY MATTERS
		Breaking the Cycle of Domestic Violence

In a recent conversation with Anne Burkholder, CEO of YWCA of Salt Lake, she aptly defined domestic violence for what it really is: family violence. "It would be a great day if we could create a society where children don't live in violent homes anymore," she said.

Indeed, breaking the generational chain of violence requires a greater social intolerance to the problem. Sadly, our society is still too willing to ignore the hard realities of domestic violence. As Anne said, "We have to bring this problem to light, particularly where children are concerned, and create systems and facilities where women and children can be safe." What we haven't done well enough as a community and society is insist that domestic violence will not be tolerated—that violence is not an acceptable solution to conflict.

Recent statistics bear out that Utah is far from immune to this reprehensible problem:

• From 2000 to 2006, there have been a total of 162 deaths related to domestic violence.
• There are 16 domestic violence shelters in Utah, which received more than 40,000 crisis calls last year. Demand for assistance and shelter is growing dramatically across the Wasatch Front.
• According to the Governor's Violence Against Women and Families Cabinet Council, in 2005 the five shelters within United Way of Salt Lake's (UWSL) service area received a total of 10,522 crisis calls.
• There were over 2,500 supported cases of child abuse related to domestic violence, representing more than 4,700 child victims during 2005.
• During 2005, the five shelters within UWSL's service area provided a total of 36,844 days of service--over half of those days (about 19,500) were used by children.
• Last year, a quarter of substantiated cases of child abuse and neglect were related to domestic violence, according to the 2007 Domestic Violence in Utah report.
• According to the latest State of Utah Point In Time Homeless Count, over one-third of the families in homeless shelters are there because of domestic violence.
• A study done by LDS Hospital found that 10 percent of the women treated in the hospital's emergency room had been physically assaulted by a partner in the past year, and 40 percent indicated they had been assaulted by a partner at least once during their lifetime.

Truly, domestic violence is as complex a problem as any we have discussed in this forum, especially considering the associated problems of homelessness and substance abuse. Nonetheless, it is important to understand that domestic violence occurs within all races, religions and socio-economic levels. Furthermore, while 85 to 90 percent of victims are women (and the children who are in those homes as well), domestic violence is not just a women's problem. As Anne so eloquently said, it is a family problem.

It is UWSL's objective to enable children and families to be safe from violence. Together, with our Community Partners and with the support of the broader community, we can provide a safe and supportive atmosphere for victims of abuse and, at the same time, provide the important programs and services necessary to disrupt and even break the cycle of abuse. Please read our Impact Matters article in this newsletter for insight into some of the programs and services that address this difficult problem within our community.

Deborah S. Bayle
President and CEO