Number of Statewide Family Violence Incidents also Increases

September 30, 2009—Austin, Texas—The Texas Council on Family Violence (TCFV) reports 136 Texas women were killed by an intimate partner in 2008. This represents an increase of 30 percent over the number of women killed in 2007.

TCFV released its annual Women Killed List today ahead of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month which begins October 1. Statistics for the list are compiled from the Texas Department of Public Safety (TDPS) 2008 Uniform Crime Report and ongoing TCFV research of news accounts. Continue Reading »

By CHRISTINE SIMMONS Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON – Women’s groups gathered at Vice President Joe Biden’s home Tuesday night to toast the 15th anniversary of landmark legislation aimed at eliminating violence against women.

“You’ve helped so many women step out of the darkness. You’ve helped so many young girls expect a different future, expect different treatment,” Biden said as he commemorated the 1994 Violence Against Women Act. “This is a day to celebrate. We have so much to be proud of.”

Houmatoday.com

The Meadows Foundation has been recognized for generous contributions to domestic violence agencies by Senator Jane Nelson on behalf of the Senate of the State of Texas. The Meadows Foundation has awarded a total of $364,000 since January in emergency grants to Texas domestic violence agencies, including $175,000 which will be used for the 24-hour National Domestic Violence Hotline (the Hotline) based in Austin.

“This generous donation comes at a time when the demand for services is increasing and many donors are scaling back philanthropic giving because of the depressed economy,” said Sheryl Cates, CEO of the Hotline. “It is a tribute to this organization that it has recognized and responded to a call for help so that vulnerable families will have somewhere to turn. Reports of an increased need for domestic violence shelters are being heard from many communities in Texas. We are grateful for the support of The Meadows Foundation.”

Pictured from left are Gloria Terry, President of the Texas Council on Family Violence (TCFV), Sheryl Cates, CEO of the National Domestic Violence Hotline (NDVH) and TCFV, Senator Jane Nelson, Bruce Esterline, Meadows Foundation Vice President for Grants and Cindy Patrick, Meadows Foundation Senior Program Officer.

Over the last five years, The Meadows Foundation has contributed approximately $3.1 million to 29 domestic violence service providers throughout Texas. “We recognize that domestic violence agencies are struggling this year to serve as many families as possible, even in the face of budget and staff reductions,” said Esterline. “Because of the great need, our foundation will continue to review requests for emergency funding throughout 2009.”

When you are on the outside looking in as many of us are the solution seems perfectly clear. As a matter of fact you may have stated this to the person on numerous occasions. No doubt there hemming and hawing or their blatant refusal to take the advice from people who obviously mean well probably have caused you moments of incredible frustration or just outright anger.

She has been physically abused for longer than you want to remember. You know that the police have been called on more than one occasion; regrettably never by her. You also know that she has never pressed charges. In fact she is her significant other’s greatest defender and for that reason she has told you more than once in no uncertain terms to mind your own business.

You can’t do that. It is not just about you caring for her as a relative or friend; it’s goes beyond that. You cannot stand the thought of this abuse being inflicted on any person.

Abcarticledirectory.com

A Florida woman murdered along with her five children endured regular abuse from her husband but seemed overwhelmed by trying to raise the kids herself and wanted him around as a father figure, Department of Children and Families records show.

Police in Haiti on Monday detained Mesac Damas, wanted for questioning in the killings of his wife, Guerline Damas, and the couple’s three boys and two girls in their Naples, Fla., apartment. A relative said detectives told them their throats had been slit.

Myfoxmyrtlebeach.com

Chris Brown thinks Oprah Winfrey should have reached out to him as well as Rihanna in the wake of his assault on his ex-girlfriend, calling the slight a “slap in my face.” The talk-show queen, however, just wants the singer to get help.

Winfrey dedicated a March episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show to “all the Rihannas of the world,” which focused on domestic violence. Brown told People he was not happy with what he saw.

 Montanasnewsstation.com

By Tanya Lee, Today correspondent

From North Dakota to Arizona, strong, talented, accomplished Native American women are taking up the challenge of protecting themselves and their sisters, their mothers and aunts, their grandmothers and granddaughters, from the devastation of domestic violence and sexual assault.

The level of violence against women and children in the U.S. is appalling, and the numbers for Native American women and children are staggering. An estimated one in three Native American women will suffer a sexual assault in her lifetime, compared with one in six for the population as a whole, according to figures from the U.S. Justice Department.

Indiancountrytoday.com

Texas Council on Family Violence (TCFV) is providing this Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) resource kit to assist domestic violence programs statewide with DVAM activity planning. The documents and graphics may be reproduced and amended to fit local needs.

The Women Killed List will be made available during the last week in September. If you have any questions, please contact TCFV at 512.79.1133.