October 7, 1999 

RE: Domestic Violence Awareness Month 

To Our Clients and Friends: 

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.  Domestic violence affects hundreds of thousands of people every year.  Perpetrators of domestic violence wreak havoc within their families, causing physical and psychological damage to both adult and child victims.  Nearly one in three adult women experience at least one physical assault by a partner during adulthood (American Psychological Association, Violence and the Family: Report of the American Psychological Association Presidential Task Force on Violence and the Family, 1996, p. 10).  Domestic violence also has a great impact on economic independence.  Studies show that between fifteen and fifty percent of abused women report interference from their partner with education, training or work (Raphael & Tolman, Trapped by Poverty, Trapped by Abuse: New Evidence Documenting the Relationship Between Domestic Violence and Welfare, 1997, p. 22).  Domestic violence also has a devastating impact on children.  Each year, an estimated 3.3 million children are exposed to violence by family members against their mothers or female caretakers (American Psychological Association, Violence and the Family: Report of the American Psychological Association Presidential Task Force on Violence and the Family, 1996, p. 11). 

Domestic violence also reverberates in the workplace; generally, 70 percent of domestic violence victims are employed and over 70 percent of them report that the abusers harass them at work either over the telephone or in person.  Perpetrators cause over 60 percent of the victims to be either late to and/or absent from work.  Domestic violence costs U.S. employers an estimated four to five billion dollars a year in absenteeism, lost productivity, employee turnover, and higher health insurance premiums alone.  

Whose business is it?  It's everyone's business - and there are things you can do to help, whether you are a friend, family member, employer, or co-worker of a victim of domestic violence.  There are things you can do even if you are not aware of anyone that is a victim of domestic violence. 

Everyone can encourage victims to seek help and tell them that the violence is not their fault.  You can refer anyone to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, which can be reached at (800) 799-SAFE or (800) 787-3224 for TTY service.  The Hotline is available 24 hours a day to connect callers with domestic violence programs in their areas.  The American Bar Association has developed a safety plan and you can get a copy to give to an abused friend or colleague or to distribute in your workplace.  For more information, contact the American Bar Association Commission on Domestic Violence at (202) 662-1737. 

In addition, you can donate your old cell phones to CALL TO PROTECT: Wireless Phones for Domestic Safety.  This joint project of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence and The Wireless Foundation provides wireless phones and free air-time to victims of domestic abuse, giving to date over 9,000 new phones through shelters and law enforcement.  This year, under the GIVE BACK CAMPAIGN, old wireless phones can be recycled and reprogrammed for distribution.  Mail wireless phone, battery, and charger (if any) to: 

The cost of postage you incur could save a life.  Donations are tax deductible and to receive a receipt for tax benefit, include your name and address.  The Wireless Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit (Tax ID No. 52-1708229). 

Think about this: 

•  A woman is beaten every nine seconds in this country.

•  A woman is killed as a result of domestic violence every six hours.

•  An estimated two to four million women will be battered in America this year.

•  Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women.

•  Children who grow up in violent homes are 74% more likely to commit criminal assaults.

 Domestic violence is not a relationship problem.  It's a crime.  No one deserves to be abused.  As employers, supervisors, co-workers and friends, we all have an obligation to take whatever small action we can to support victims of domestic violence and hold abusers accountable.