Why are Domestic Violence Services needed?

• Thirty percent of American women report that they have been physically abused by their husband or boyfriend at one time or another.
• Americans continue to believe that the majority of fellow citizens would do nothing if the man next door were abusing his wife or girlfriend. Eighty-four percent report they would be concerned about their own safety if they tried to help in a specific situation of domestic violence.
• Thirty-eight percent of Americans agree "some wives provoke their husbands into physically abusing them.

Depending on the source of research, women are being beaten every 9 to 15 seconds in this country.

Between 1,500 and 2,000 women are murdered each year by their current or former partners (FBI).

One third of all teenagers report having experienced violence in a dating relationship.
As many as 2/3 of men who beat their wives also abuse their children (Stark and Fritcraft). 

Domestic violence has devastating effects on families, and these effects extend throughout entire communities, to businesses, schools, and churches.

Domestic violence is often generational.

In the rural areas of Arizona, victims of domestic violence may not have ready access to services due to isolation and long distances between available domestic violence safe homes or shelters.

What is the.... Rural Domestic Violence Services Network?

The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) receives Federal funds from the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act for the prevention of domestic violence and the provision of domestic violence education. This funding also supports domestic violence coalitions in the provision of advocacy, planning, public awareness and education, administration and direct service. 

In Arizona these funds are used primarily to provide services to the rural areas of the state utilizing Rural Safe Home Networks and to support the Arizona Coalition Against Domestic Violence (AzCADV). Currently the Department funds six safe homes, Verde Valley Sanctuary Children Services, the Never Again Foundation, and AzCADV.

The Rural Domestic Violence Services Network operates domestic violence hot lines, and provides domestic violence victims and their children with temporary, emergency safe shelter, peer counseling, case management, and advocacy.

The Arizona Coalition Against Domestic Violence provides domestic violence training throughout Arizona to domestic violence service providers, law enforcement, legal systems, medical communities, social service providers, and others as requested. ACADV also provides Information and Referral Services to domestic violence victims and others who request the information throughout the state.

Family Violence Prevention and Services funds are also used for legal advocacy services for victims, counseling services for children, and education and prevention targeting Indian communities.

What are the goals of this program?

• Provide temporary, emergency safe shelters for those persons experiencing domestic violence
• To end domestic violence in our families and communities through:
  - Prevention and Early Intervention 
  - Education
• Develop Zero Tolerance Policies for domestic violence throughout our communities
• Provide peer counseling, support, case management and advocacy to victims
• Give support to communities to develop standards for law enforcement, the courts and legal systems to ensure batterer accountability
• Provide networking opportunities for local social service providers, law enforcement, courts, medical providers, faith community, the private sector and others.

What has this program achieved?

Between October 2007 and September 2008 the Department's Rural Domestic Violence Services Network received $1,699,721 in Family Violence Prevention Funds.  Nine safe home contractors and six safe homes were funded during that fiscal year. 95% of the dollars were spent on shelter and related assistance.

472 women and 645 children were sheltered during the year. 146 persons were turned away because shelter was unavailable, and 174 persons were referred to other shelters due to lack of space. 993 individual peer counseling hours and 1,626 group counseling hours were provided to persons in shelters. 

Violence Prevention and Education

National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month

Need more information?        
For more information on the Rural Domestic Violence Services Network:

JAnn Pope, M.Ed., C.P.C.
Domestic Violence Program Manager  
Rural Domestic Violence Services Network
Phone: (602) 542-7341  
Fax: (602) 542-7351  
Email: popej@azdhs.gov 

For training and technical assistance, and shelter information in your local area: 

Arizona Coalition Against Domestic Violence  
Phone: (602) 279-2900  
Fax: (602) 279-2980  
Email: acadv@azcadv.org 

For more information or to talk with someone if you believe you are abused and/or in danger:

• National Coalition Against Domestic Violence: www.ncadv.org
  Or the Rural Domestic Violence Services Network:
  Ama Doo Alchini Bighan, Inc., Chinle
  (928) 674-8314
  
  
• Arizona Coalition Against Domestic Violence, (State Wide Services)
  (602) 279-2900
  www.azcadv.org
  
  
• Community Alliance Against Family Abuse, Apache Junction
  (480) 982-0205
  www.caafaaz.org
  www.Npcresources.org (online resource manual)
  
  
• Colorado River Regional Crisis Shelter, Parker
  (928) 669-8620
  
  
• Gila County Safe Home, Globe
  (928) 402-8032
  
  
• Social Services Interagency Council of Lake Havasu, Lake Havasu City
  (928) 453-5800
  
  
• Mt. Graham Safe House, Safford
  (928) 348-9104
  www.mtgrahamsh.org
  
  
• Never Again Foundation, Chandler
  (480) 539-9111
  www.neveragainfoundation.org
  Free civil legal representation
  
  
• Verde Valley Sanctuary, Verde Valley
  (928) 634-2511