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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
COOK COUNTY RECOGNIZES OCTOBER 2024 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 Domestic Violence Hotline, nearly 3 in 10 women (29%) and 1 in 10 men (10%) in the US have experienced rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by a partner and reported it having a related impact on their functioning; and
WHEREAS, according to the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, women are disproportionately impacted by domestic violence, with 1 in 2 women and 2 in 5 men experiencing sexual violence, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime; and
WHEREAS, according to the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, an average of 24 people per minute are victims of rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner in the United States, equating to more than 12 million women and men over a single year; and
WHEREAS, about 45 million children witness family violence during their childhood; and
WHEREAS, over 47% of women have encountered contact with sexual violence, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner during their lifetime; and
WHEREAS, a June 2020 report from The Network indicated that the Cook County Sheriff’s Office documented 2,458 domestic violence-related incidents in 2019 alone; 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, LGBTQ domestic violence victims face barriers unique to their status, such as 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, 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, Cook County still leads the list with 37 deaths in 2023, compared to 18 in 2022; 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 Nation 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 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, 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, the Justice Advisory Council is a leader in Cook County’s efforts to address violence, including managing a $5 million Domestic Violence Intervention and Support Services Grant initiative made possible by the American Rescue Plan Act; and
WHEREAS, Cook County continues to commit resources 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, additional complementary investments include Cook County’s Gun Violence Prevention and Reduction grant initiative, managed by the Cook County Justice Advisory Council, and behavioral health grants under the Stronger Together: Building a More Equitable Behavioral Health System in Cook County initiative, managed by Cook County Health; 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 a victim or witness to domestic violence can call or text the Illinois Domestic Violence hotline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 877-863-6338 (877-TO END DV) or call the National Domestic Hotline at 800-799-7233, both offer assistance in over 200 languages.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners commends domestic violence victim advocates, victim service providers, crisis hotline staff, and first responders for their compassionate support of survivors of domestic violence and commits to continuing to raise awareness of domestic violence and the corresponding devastating effects of domestic violence on survivors, families, and communities; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners officially recognizes October 2024 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month and calls on the Cook County community to reaffirm their commitment to speaking out against domestic violence, assisting victims in finding the help and healing they need, and work collaboratively to end domestic violence in our community.
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