Senator Coons led a conversation with advocates from the Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence (DCADV) on Tuesday that highlighted the public health impacts of domestic violence and the importance of prevention strategies to reduce gender health disparities. The discussion was part of DCADV’s first THRIVE Delaware Conference exploring the health care response to domestic violence.
“Intimate partner violence is more than just a criminal justice or moral issue, it’s a health issue,” Senator Coons said. “Women are five times more likely to be abused by a partner and experience higher levels of disease and disability throughout their lifetimes as a result. We’ve made great inroads against abuse in large part because of the Violence Against Women Act, and this year’s reauthorization will ensure local agencies have the resources they need to support victims, prosecute abusers, and prevent violence. We must continue working together to educate the public, empower victims, punish offenders, and break the cycle of abuse in our communities.”
THRIVE Delaware is a multi-sector collaborative partnership that promotes healthy relationships, individuals, and violence-free environments. The initiative brings together health care providers, policymakers, survivors, advocates, and prevention practitioners across an array of disciplines to address domestic violence as a public health issue.
The Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence (DCADV) launched the THRIVE initiative with the support of two federal grants awarded earlier this year: a $375,000 Project Connect grant from the U.S. Office of Women’s Health and Futures Without Violence and a $1.7 million Delta Focus grant from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Division of Violence Prevention.
As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and co-chair of the Senate Law Enforcement Caucus, Chris worked aggressively to support the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, and earned DCADV’s 2012 Vision of Peace Award for his leadership and sustained commitment to ending domestic violence. He wrote a letter to the CDC in October expressing his strong support for the THRIVE initiative and urging approval of the DCADV’s grant application. Funding from the grant, awarded in March, helped the organization finance Tuesday’s conference.