Statement from Katie Ray-Jones: Introduction of FVPSA 2019
“The National Domestic Violence Hotline (The Hotline) and its dating abuse, prevention, and education project for youth, loveisrespect, is authorized through the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA). For more than 21 years, FVPSA has provided critical funding that has allowed us to answer more than five million calls, texts, and chats from people affected by intimate partner violence,” said Katie Ray-Jones, chief executive officer of The Hotline. “Millions of survivors depend on our organization for resources and support, and the successful reauthorization of FVPSA with key improvements will ensure that we are able to continue to provide this life-saving support to survivors. We commend Sen. Casey and Sen. Murkowski for their continued commitment to all survivors through the introduction of the bipartisan Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvements Act of 2019.”
FVPSA is the nation’s only dedicated source of funding for domestic violence shelters and provides critical support for shelters, coalitions, training and technical assistance centers, children’s services, emergency response hotlines, and prevention initiatives. The Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvements Act of 2019 expands grant programs and makes many needed improvements such as updated provisions for The Hotline and expanded services for underrepresented populations, including American Indians, Alaskan Natives, and Deaf victims of domestic and dating violence. These updates ensure that more survivors have access to support and safety.
Domestic violence affects one in four women and one in seven men(1). In A YEAR OF IMPACT: National Domestic Violence Hotline and loveisrespect the organization reports it received 573,670 contacts, more than in any other year since the organization’s inception.
Types of domestic violence and dating abuse most discussed in 2018 include:
Emotional Abuse: 88%
(up 2% from 2017)
Physical Abuse: 60%
(no change from 2017)
Financial Abuse: 24%
(up 2% from 2017)
Digital Abuse: 15%
(up 3% from 2017)
Sexual Abuse: 11%
(up 1% from 2017)
About the National Domestic Violence Hotline
The Hotline is the only national organization providing services 24/7/365 via phone, chat, and text, helping those affected by relationship violence find the support and safety they deserve. We also focus on the prevention of abuse through loveisrespect, our healthy relationships platform that engages, educates, and empowers young people to prevent and end abusive relationships. The Hotline and loveisrespect are free and confidential and available for anyone who is affected by abuse. The organization has the most comprehensive resource database in the country, with access to 4,800 service providers and resources in the U.S., U.S. territories, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline relies on the generous support of individuals, private gifts from corporations and foundations, and federal grants. It is funded in part by Grant Number 90EV0426 from the Family and Youth Services Bureau, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Administration for Children and Families or the U.S. Department of HHS.
For more information visit www.thehotline.org.
(1) Black, M.C., Basile, K.C., Breiding, M.J., Smith, S.G., Walters, M.L., Merrick, M.T., Chen, J., & Stevens, M.R. (2011). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 Summary Report. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention