Domestic violence is a behavioral pattern wherein a person or a partner attempts to exert control of power towards the other person by inflicting physical force, threats, and intimidation. The behavioral pattern includes emotional, psychological, sexual, verbal, spiritual, financial, physical abuse, and stalking or threatening behaviors. Any person can be a victim either rich or poor, racial or ethnic group, educational background, sexual orientation, age, and religion.
Domestic violence abusers come from all backgrounds as victims do. Abusers share their characteristics that they attempt to justify their behaviors as abusive. They fail to take proper responsibility for the abuse, use the same tactics to achieve or maintain power and control over the other person or partner. The abusers are typically having different personality outside a relationship than they do toward other person or partner. This kind of personality complicates the ability of the victim to describe the experience and seek help.
In California, the issue on domestic violence is a serious crime. The California Partnership to End Domestic Violence or CPEDV is a nationwide membership alliance or coalition of domestic violence agencies. In 2005, the victim service provider was formed through the union of the California Alliance Against Domestic Violence or CAADV and the Statewide California Coalition for Battered Women or SCCBW. The CAADV and SCCBW united to form a state alliance or coalition to promote unity in the domestic violence movement in California. Its partnership is rooted in the battered women movement and values that defined the movement like other domestic violence coalitions all throughout the United States of America states and territories. The movement includes working aggressively towards social justice, ending the oppression of women, and self-determination. The national coalition and law enforcement agencies are the sustainable resources to recognize and recruit support and assist to end domestic violence.
CPEDV believes that shared expertise, advocates, and legislators possibly can end any form of domestic violence. They believe that being strong together every day they inspire, connect, and inspire all of those concerned on the issue. Their program promotes the collective voice of different alliance or coalition of individuals and organizations. The individuals and organizations are working together to eliminate any forms of domestic violence. CPEDV is an advocate for social change; it has an advanced mission through shaping public policies, strengthening the capacity of every member, and increase the community awareness to work to a common goal of advancement in safety and to heal victims, survivors, and their families respectively.
The California Partnership to End Domestic Violence is always active in the passage, performance, enforcement, and implementation of comprehensive legislation, and strong policies to increase safety for all the victims of any domestic violence in women, children, and family. Through the Public Policy and Research Committees or PPRC, the advocates of domestic violence have integral role to ensure that the policies are working effectively to meet the needs of victims or survivors and all programs across California. The policies always strive to maintain and hold its accountability and create sustainable funds or sources for domestic violence programs and services. The unity of victims or survivors, community members, and advocates are important in the alliance or partnership policies to its success. All concerns, personal stories, and experiences are considered by elected officials, government agencies, and policymakers; all the information gathered help in the decision-making processes.
The alliance or partnership performs with the membership to enhance the policies that prioritize and advocate supporting legislation that protect victims and hold the perpetrators accountable of their actions. The staff and membership participate in public hearings, assist state agencies in policy development, assist in nationwide training, provide comments on proposed and pending legislation, and provide expertise on the issues in domestic violence.
All concern citizens are free to report any abusive or domestic violence that need help or need to speak with someone regarding the services. A free and confidential help is available 24 hours a day, just contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline to be connected directly to the local domestic violence program. The CPEDV does not operate 24 hours crisis hotline or provide direct services to the victims; however, anybody can reach their office during office hours operating 8 hours a day with its hotline number for local domestic violence program. In addition, anybody is welcome to check their Domestic Violence Service by County to receive services in domestic violence program.
The concerns regarding the ability of the abusers to track the computer use of their partners, the alliance or partnership does not provide referrals or help via email and suggest referring to their internet safety tips. The Verizon Wireless HopeLine is a program that collects unused mobile phones and provides limited supplies of reconditioned mobile phones or cell phones to local domestic violence program to be utilized by the survivors of the domestic violence. The free cell phones provided a restricted time; it is intended to utilize in emergencies to call the hotline 911, to stay in contact with the local domestic violence program, and to make calls like the potential property owners, employer, police, utility companies, doctors, court staff, and school staffs needed to assist rebuild a life. In California, every local domestic violence program has a process to lend out the free phones.
In the state-level efforts, the alliance or partnership advocates for the federal funding and its legislation to deal with the needs of the victims. The CPEDV prioritized the Violence Against Women Act or VAWA, Family Violence Prevention and Services Act or FVPSA, and the Victims of Crime Act or VOCA. Annually, CPEDV representatives actively travel to Washington, DC to convene with the California Congressional delegation regarding the federal policies. The CPEDV has the commitment to promote systems advocacy and to enhance service delivery prioritizing the safety, necessities, and independence of the people who experienced domestic violence. The goal of the systems change includes underserved and un-served populations and the children, as well.
Communications, professional training and services, and collaboration, coalition building and networking are also the focus of CPEDV. Its communications promote the combined nationwide the right to be heard on the issue of domestic violence. It has strategic messages that employ multiple ways to promote the vision and mission. They conduct media advocacy that provides education to improve the accuracy of information of the true face of domestic violence, and encourage the positive role of the media to prevent and end domestic violence. In addition, it organizes events and campaigns to increase the awareness on domestic violence and promote changes in the society.
Regional workshops, conference, and trainings sessions help strengthen the domestic violence services and organizations respectively. The CPEDV offers customized resources assistance technically to help the programs in addressing questions, necessities, and challenges specifically. It shares practices, emerging issues, and trends that occurred throughout the nations. In addition, they disseminate resources, videos, materials, and curricula accessible free on line or through library. The CPEDV facilitates regional peer-to-peer learning, support, and networking. It encourages information and dialogue through committees actively that strengthen the network of victim services, and represents the field by serving the national advisory coalitions, committees, and work groups.
The importance of the success of the CPEDV is the engagement of all members in the effort of its advocacy. The decision made by the alliance or partnership influenced the programs and the victims, and the legislators; the tools and resources help engage all policies effectively.
With CPEDV’s vision, a California free from domestic violence is very attainable. It is committed to promote safe and strong families. The approach is to eliminate domestic violence in the family, community-wide and well rounded. In addition, to provide a complete range of intervention, prevention, and treatment programs. Enlist the efforts of local residents, partners, legislations, and institutions, all who strive to stop domestic violence and child abuse.
Reference
CPEDV. (2005). About Us: California Partnership to End Domestic Violence. Retrieved March
23, 2014, from California Partnership to End Domestic Violence Web site: http://www.cpedv.org/
Fresno Superior Court. (2006). About Us: Superior Court of California. Retrieved March 23,
2014, from Superior Court of California Web site: http://www.fresno.courts.ca.gov/
