From the Kitchen Table to the Hall of Fame – A Celebration of Women’s History Month

PCADV will celebrate 
Women´s History Month by honoring one of the newest inductees to the National Women´s Hall of Fame – Susan Kelly-Dreiss, the Coalition´s co-founder and first executive director – at a special breakfast March 24.

Click here for more information on the breakfast. Visit National Women´s Hall of Fame for more information about the National Women´s Hall of Fame and for a list of the 2009 inductees.

NNEDV Releases Domestic Violence Counts 2009 Census Results

In one day last year Pennsylvania´s 61 domestic violence programs served 2,597 victims and their children, according to a national report released March 8.

A 24-hour census of domestic violence shelters in all 50 states by the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) revealed that across Pennsylvania on Sept. 15, 2009:

• 1,190 victims were safely sheltered;
• 1,407 victims benefited from other services, including counseling, legal advocacy and children´s support groups;
• 950 hotline calls were answered;
• 1,473 people were trained in domestic violence intervention and prevention;
• 365 requests for services, including 247 requests for housing to escape an abuser, were unmet due to a critical shortage of funds and staff.

More information about Pennsylvania´s numbers
Access to the full report

SAVE THE DATE: Responding to DV Homicide Statewide Conference

Lessons Learned and Effective Strategies to Enhance Safety

NASW-PA Chapter is a co-sponsor for this workshop. 12.0 CEs will be awarded for completion of this course. NASW has been designated as a pre-approved provider of professional continuing education for social workers (Section 47.36), Marriage and Family Therapist (Section 48.36) and Professional Counselors (Section 49.36) by the PA State Board of Social Workers, Marriage & Family Therapists and Professional Counselors.

$10 for NASW Members and $20 for nonmembers for certificates not included in the registration fees.

Details and Registration (PDF document)

Governor Proposes Level Funding for DV Services

FY 2010-11 Budget Update - Feb. 9

Harrisburg -- Gov. Ed Rendell proposed Tuesday to maintain funding for domestic violence services at the current level of $12.48 million in next year´s Department of Public Welfare budget. The funding, which is distributed to 61 community-based programs, supports life-saving services to domestic violence victims and their children in all 67 counties.

In light of Pennsylvania´s budgetary challenges, PCADV thanks Gov. Rendell for recognizing the critical and continuing need for domestic violence services across the Commonwealth. Unfortunately, state funding remains below what it was two years ago. With demand increasing 28 percent for shelter and 3 percent for counseling, while unmet requests for services are up 13 percent, the Coalition also is pursuing other funding sources.

Impact of the Economy on
Domestic Violence

Recent bad economic news has prompted numerous media inquiries about the link between between the downturn in the economy and a rise in domestic violence. While there is no research or data to make the case that recession, unemployment or empty bank accounts directly cause domestic violence, we do know that these stressful circumstances often exacerbate situations where domestic violence already is a factor. Many programs in PA and around the country attribute their overflowing shelters and waiting lists to the financial hardships currently confronting victims and their abusers. Domestic violence advocates are gravely concerned for the safety of battered victims and their children who now have fewer options and resources as the abuse escalates and the funding for local domestic violence programs dwindles. Related Information and News Articles

U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Restrictions on Guns for Domestic Abusers

The U.S Supreme Court rejected arguments by convicted domestic abuser Randy Edward Hayes and the gun lobby that federal law allowed Hayes to possess firearms. The Court cited arguments made by the Brady Center about the risks posed by firearms in the hands of domestic abusers.

The 7-2 ruling in United States v. Hayes was a blow to gun lobby groups that had urged the Court to severely narrow the federal Lautenberg Amendment that bars gun possession by abusers convicted of misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence.

For more information, please visit The Brady Campaign Web site.

Related Coverage

On target: The Supreme Court protects domestic abuse victims - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 3/3/2009

Preemptive Strike: Domestic violence suspects should be forced to relinquish their weapons - The Washington Post, 2/28/2009

Editorial: Gun Sense and Nonsense - New York Times, 2/27/2009

Editorial: Gun Control - Philadelphia Inquirer, 2/27/2009

Court upholds decision in gun revocation case - Erie Times News, 2/26/2009