Community Conversation - Domestic Violence
Monday, Dec 14, the PGE Foundation convened 25 grantmakers from companies and private foundations on the important community issue of domestic violence to explore ways businesses and foundations can help. The speakers were Captain Donna Henderson from the Portland Police Bureau’s domestic violence unit, Chiquita Rollins, d.v. coordinator for Mult. Co., and Martha Strawn Morris, Executive Director of the new Gateway Center for Domestic Violence, which will open in the Spring—a 1-stop center for domestic violence services.
Through this discussion, a number of ways that citizens and employers can help were identified. It was made clear to us today that education is needed to let the public know to report cases of abuse even if they think they don’t want to get involved (they can be reported anonymously). The Multnomah County Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team has identified six recommendations or areas of needs:
* More effective response from people and institutions when abuse is suspected.
* Improved communication across systems.
* Enhanced ability to identify and track high-risk cases.
* Improved victim access and connection to domestic violence services.
* Improved information for professionals to assist them in responding to a specfiic case.
* Identifying and filling gaps in existing system that limit ability to resond.
Greatest identified needs:
* The biggest challenge to helping someone leave a domestic violence situation is obtaining affordable safe housing and transportation. 9/10 of emergency housing requests are denied due to lack of availability. Rent assistance programs, hotel vouchers and Oxford housing help fill the gap.
* School-based awareness and prevention programs are also largely nonexistent and under-funded.
* General operating support of domestic violence organizations to keep them in business to provide needed services.
* Also, recommended support and advocacy for legislative initiatives and engaging influential men.
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If people are interested in legislative advocacy, they can join the Oregon Legislative Alliance to End Violence Against Women by sending an email to (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) and asking to be added to their email list.
If they are interested in learning more about what’s going on in Multnomah County to end domestic violence, they can sign up to receive our monthly newsletter from the Multnomah County Family Violence Coordinating Council by sending their name and email address to (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
In addition to above, anyone may call the National Domestic Violence Hotline number, 1-800-799-SAFE.