New York City’s stance against Domestic and Dating Violence: Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s initiative to eradicate dating abuse in the City

October is domestic violence awareness month. As a resident of New York City I am aware that domestic violence awareness efforts are not only heightened in the month of October, they are attained throughout the year.

Here are some facts:

• In more than 60% of domestic-violence related homicides, women knew their attackers.
• Women ages 20 to 24 are at greatest risk of becoming victims of domestic violence.
• Nearly three women are murdered every day because of domestic violence.
• Nearly 50% of homeless women and children are homeless because of domestic violence.
• The 2007 NYC Department of Teen Health Risk Survey found that one in ten teens had been sexually or physically assaulted within the previous year.

Since becoming mayor of New York City in 2002, Mayor Michael Bloomberg has established many programs and initiatives to prevent incidents of domestic and dating violence through education, counseling, and collaborating with various organizations and individuals to develop better methods to assist victims of abuse. I believe these efforts have led to the 20 percent decrease of family related homicides in New York.

Since 2002, the following initiatives have been implemented:
2005
A new Family Justice Center opens in Brooklyn. Each Family Justice Center offer the same services, all of which are free. These services consist of counseling, legal advice, assistance reporting the incidence of abuse via Domestic Violence Police Officers, Spiritual Support, assistance reporting and combating elder/disabled abuse, and other services. At each Family Justice Center there are confidentiality guidelines, language interpretation available, and security.
New York City Healthy Dating Relationship Training Academy was established. This academy offers free workshops provide educational and skills-building training for adolescents, their parents and other organizations upon request.
2006
A public education campaign, developed by McCann Erickson, consisting of informative posters distributed throughout the city in the subways, buses, and telephone kiosks.
Until The Violence Stops: NYC, a two week festival of various performances and community events designed to draw awareness of dating violence.
2008
A new Family Justice Center opens in Queens.
2010:
Public education Domestic Violence Campaign held in which posters are placed in supermarkets, banks, pharmacies, restaurants and financial centers along with a public service announcement radio campaign.
A new Family Justice center opens in the Bronx.

I am certain I have not covered all of the efforts of Mayor Bloomberg and other New York City officials during the past eight years; however these initiative and the statistics show that education and resources are the key. I hope that such efforts will continue in New York City and the rate of family related homicides and incidents of dating violence continue to decrease. For more information on services available to victims of abuse within the City of New York, go to http://www.nyc.gov/.