STOPPING
THE CYCLE OF VIOLENCE
Understanding Violence Prevention
Efforts
Violence prevention efforts can be
categorized into four areas:
- Primary Prevention (broad awareness
and education campaigns)
- Secondary prevention (targeting
high-risk groups)
- Tertiary prevention (focusing on
victims)
- Intervention and Treatment (reaching
out to victims in the midst of trauma)
Tertiary prevention and Intervention
and Treatment are easy to grasp, the
immediate benefits more obvious, and
the outcomes easier to measure and
document. Unfortunately, this means
there is always inadequate funding
for primary and secondary prevention.
Consequently, we try to fund across
the spectrum, with greater attention
to preventative programs. Prevention
is far less costly on all fronts, especially
where it matter most: human suffering.
Each category is discussed in more
detail below.
Primary Prevention (broad
awareness and education campaigns)
Domestic Violence happens in every socioeconomic group. It can happen
to anyone. It is estimated that there is some physical violence in more
than 40 percent of all marriages in the U.S. Since domestic violence
is considered one of our nation's most under reported crimes, these figures
may actually be conservative.
Unfortunately, the nature of domestic
violence is such that both victim and
perpetrator often deny the problem.
Consequently, the public at large is
not broadly aware of domestic violence
as a serious problem in our society.
It is here that we must make an impact
by increasing awareness.
Secondary prevention (targeting
high-risk groups)
Studies show that some groups are at higher risk of domestic violence
than others. Here are some of the highlights of these studies. The following
groups are at higher risk:
- Younger women (under age 45)
- Women who are recently separated
- Low income women (less than $15,000
annual income)
- Recently unemployed women
- Women with less education than
a college degree
- Women with children under the age
of 5
By definition, the partners of these
women are also more likely perpetrators
of domestic violence. The Waitt Family
Foundation is exploring ways of targeting
these higher-risk groups. While we
support many intervention and treatment
programs that target these groups quite
well, we continue to see too few programs
designed to prevent violence in these
high-risk groups.
Tertiary prevention (focusing
on victims)
There is a barrier to seeking help. Once that barrier is overcome, victims
of domestic violence often find there are resources available to help
them. There are many shelters that offer not just housing but some job
training and some help with finding new places to live. Successful programs
in tertiary prevention are a critical element for recovering victims.
Helping victims gain independence is necessary to break the cycle of
domestic violence.
Intervention and Treatment
(reaching out to victims in the midst
of trauma)
Intervention and treatment are the most developed programs and the best-funded.
Our research shows that many government agencies and private organizations
are well trained and educated about the problems of domestic violence,
including the police, district attorney’s offices, and health care
providers. This is not surprising, given that a national survey recently
found that 40% of all calls to 911 at night were about domestic disputes.
> Defining
Domestic Violence
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