PRESS RELEASE –
Response to Commissioner Goodell’s Statement
Contact: Kendra Wyckoff
UDVC Executive Director
(801) 521-5544
19th September 2014
The Utah Domestic Violence Coalition welcomes the announcement this afternoon that the NFL will be donating funds to the National Domestic Violence Hotline to assist them to respond to the increased calls for help from victims of domestic violence in the wake of the recent publicity and focus on domestic violence and NFL players but says that more needs to be done by the NFL and within Utah.
In the last week calls to the National Domestic Violence Hotline were up by 84% but this surge in requests for help from victims is not impacting the National Hotline alone. Across the nation, state and local domestic violence hotlines, who handle pass through calls from the National Domestic Violence Hotline, as well answer direct calls, are also seeing an increase in demand for their services. The challenge is many local domestic violence service providers having been hard-hit by budget cuts in recent years were already struggling to meet the needs of victims, and do not have the resources to absorb more victims in need of help.
Kendra Wyckoff,Executive Director of the Utah Domestic Violence Coalition, commented, “ Although recent media coverage presents domestic violence as an emerging issue, the reality is many Utah families have been, and are impacted, by domestic violence on a daily basis. Over the past five years, Utah's rate of domestic violence has been higher than the national average. Between 2008 - 2012 the non-profit domestic violence victim service providers have managed to increase the level of emergency shelter by 41% in the face of stagnant or decreasing funding. The situation is now beyond critical; adequate funding for these domestic violence victim service providers was not in place and was affecting victims before the current media focus and increase in requests. When victims are reaching out to ask for help, we need to be able to respond and offer the safety planning, emergency shelter and supportive services they need.”
Data from the National Network to End Domestic Violence 2013 Census Day, a count that tracks services provided and unmet requests from victims during one 24 hour period, paints a stark picture of both the scale of domestic violence in this country and the need to fully fund the services that not only save lives but help rebuild them. That data shows that on a single day in 2013, nearly 10,000 requests for domestic violence services were turned away due to a lack of resources. Utah’s victim services take part in this census and report the same increasing squeeze on their resources and capacity. The National Network to End Domestic Violence commenting on today’s announcement by Commissioner Goodell said, “Funds for the National Domestic Violence Hotline will make a real difference in the number of calls that they are able to field; however, the small amount of funds provided to local and state sexual assault hotlines, while greatly appreciated, will likely average less than $500 per local program – less than your average bake sale.” It is unknown if funds will made available to local programs here in Utah as there is no NFL team based here. Kendra Wyckoff’s response to this is a call to the people of Utah, “We may not have an NFL team here but we
do have domestic violence and we all have our part to play in addressing it and responding to it. Right now that means providing the services needed; we hope that the increased awareness and dialogue from the recent media coverage encourages our legislators to do the right thing and increase funding for nonprofit domestic violence victim services.”
If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse, tell a friend, a neighbor, a family member or co-worker. For immediate help call 9-1-1. If you decide to leave a violent relationship, do not threaten to leave, and do not act alone. Call a local victim advocate or the Utah Domestic Violence Link-Line at 1-800-897-LINK (5465) for help. Your call is confidential and could save lives. You can be referred to an advocate who will help you create a safety plan and help find shelter for you and your children. If you are a person who has been violent, there is also help available for you through the Link-Line.
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