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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
COOK COUNTY RECOGNIZES OCTOBER 2025 AS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH (DVAM)
WHEREAS, Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) is a national campaign dedicated to raising awareness about domestic violence in October, which Congress declared in 1989; and
WHEREAS, DVAM is a time to uplift the experiences and resilience of survivors, as well as educate and support households experiencing this hardship; and
WHEREAS, domestic violence is a pattern of physical and psychological abuse, threats, intimidation, isolation, or economic coercion used by one person to exert power and control over another person in the context of a dating, familial, or household relationship; and
WHEREAS, intimate partner violence can happen to anyone at any point in a relationship, and affects people of all ages as well as all racial, ethnic, gender, economic, and religious backgrounds; and
WHEREAS, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), 1 in 4 women and 1 in 10 men experience sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime; and
WHEREAS, intimate partner violence is most common among women who are aged 18 to 24; and
WHEREAS, 1 in 5 women and 1 in 40 men in the U.S. are victims of rape or attempted rape; and
WHEREAS, the presence of a gun in a domestic situation increases the risk of homicide by 500%; and
WHEREAS, according to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, each year, 1 in 15 children is exposed to intimate partner violence. Furthermore, 90% of these children are eyewitnesses to this violence; and
WHEREAS, in the U.S., 15.5 million children live in families where partner violence happened at least once within the past year; and
WHEREAS, LGBTQ domestic violence victims face barriers unique to their status, such as a lack of access to domestic violence shelters, according to the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs; and
WHEREAS, the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey found that over 54% of respondents experienced intimate partner violence, including coercive control and physical harm; and
WHEREAS, in comparison to 35% of heterosexual women, 43,8% of lesbians and 61.1% of bisexual women have experienced rap, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner.; and
WHEREAS, in comparison, 29% of heterosexual men, 26% of gay men, and 37.3% of bisexual men have experienced rap, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner; and
WHEREAS, 47% of American Indian/Alaska Native women, 45.1% of non-Hispanic Black women, 37.3% of non-Hispanic White women, 34.4% of Hispanic women, and 18.3% of Asian-Pacific Islander women have experienced sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime; and
WHEREAS, noncitizen victims of domestic violence report heightened concerns with accessing law enforcement and services due to uncertainty arising from changing immigration policies and heightened immigration enforcement; and
WHEREAS, according to the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence, domestic violence deaths in Illinois rose by 110% last year, with 94 incidents of domestic violence leading to 120 deaths in 2023. That includes 107 homicides and 13 suicides in which the perpetrators took their own lives. That's up from the previous year, when 45 incidents led to 57 deaths; and
WHEREAS, in Illinois, there were 94 incidents of domestic violence which led to 120 deaths, a significant increase from the 45 incidents of domestic violence that led to 57 deaths reported for 2022; and
WHEREAS, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, domestic violence hotlines receive approximately 21,000 calls a day, an average of close to 15 calls every minute; and
WHEREAS, Domestic Violence has profound and far-reaching effects on mental health for both victims and perpetrators, survivors often experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), suicidal thoughts, anxiety, and depression, or can lead to substance abuse; and
WHEREAS, victims of domestic violence who worked with advocates experienced less violence over time, reported a higher quality of life and social support, and had less difficulty obtaining community resources over time, according to the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence; and
WHEREAS, $5 million was allocated to the Domestic Violence Intervention and Support Services Grant initiative, made possible by the American Rescue Plan Act; and
WHEREAS, Cook County committed additional resources in 2025 to victims and survivors of domestic violence with 5 grant awards representing nearly $900,000 of court-based legal aid and advocacy services before the board for approval this month; and
WHEREAS, funding for the Domestic Violence Intervention and Support Services Grant initiative will continue in 2026; and
WHEREAS, the separately elected offices of Cook County have demonstrated their commitment with additional investments and initiatives; and
WHEREAS, while these investments have been made at the County level, state and federal cuts have resulted in resource gaps in critical services for victims and survivors; and
WHEREAS, despite these investments, there is a great need to increase funding for programs aimed at intervening in and preventing domestic violence in Cook County and throughout the United States; and
WHEREAS, October is recognized as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and the third Thursday of October is nationally recognized as Purple Thursday, where people are encouraged to wear purple to increase awareness of domestic violence; and
WHEREAS, Cook County residents who may be victims or witnesses of domestic violence are encouraged to contact the Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by calling or texting 877-863-6338 (877-TO END DV), or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233; both hotlines offer confidential support and assistance in over 200 languages.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners commends domestic violence victim advocates, service providers, crisis hotline staff, and first responders for their unwavering dedication and compassionate support of survivors; and further affirms its commitment to raising awareness of domestic violence and its devastating impact on individuals, families, and communities; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners hereby designates October 2025 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Cook County, and urges all members of the Cook County community to reaffirm their commitment to speaking out against domestic violence, supporting survivors in accessing the help and healing they deserve, and working together to eliminate domestic violence in our communities.
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