ABOUT WOMAN TO WOMAN

"Overcoming abuse doesn't just happen, it takes positive steps everyday. Let today be the day you start to move forward."

About Woman to Woman

Domestic violence is widespread and serious issues that affect health and well-being across the lifespan. This conference addresses domestic violence with stories including dating violence/adolescent relation-ship abuse and reproductive coercion, as well as, other forms of violence that often overlap including trauma, human trafficking and bullying. In addition to its health consequences, domestic violence is a significant risk factor for lifelong and inter-generational health and social problems. Because survivors, as well as, perpetrators visit health providers for care for themselves and their families, health visits, this conference is a great opportunity to support survivors and provide education on healthy relationships. Health care and public health professionals are in a unique position to serve as key players in a coordinated, multi-sector response and other forms of interpersonal violence. Other community advocates are also in a unique position to focus survivor health and support primary prevention. This conference highlights the great work being done across East Texas to address the intersecting issues of health, domestic/sexual violence and violence as a social determinant of health.

The first annual event is hosted by the Mt. Calvary Baptist Church (Longview, TX). Mt. Calvary has proudly supported health care professionals, domestic violence survivors, and policy makers at all levels as they improve health care’s response to domestic violence.  

Domestic Violence in Our Area

Domestic violence is the willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault, and/or other abusive behavior as part of a systematic pattern of power and control perpetrated by one intimate partner against another. It includes physical violence, sexual violence, threats, and emotional abuse. The frequency and severity of domestic violence can vary dramatically.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN TEXAS
  • In 2013, there were 76,704 reported victims of abuse by current or former spouses. Many others went unreported. This statistic excludes reported abuse between non-married intimate partners.
  • In 2014, Texas domestic violence hotlines answered 185,373 calls.
  • In 2012, 114 Texan women were killed by intimate partners, more than 10% of the national total.
  • 75% of Texas 16-24-year-olds have either experienced dating violence or know another young person who has.
  • In 2013, 31% of victims/survivors of domestic violence requesting shelter were turned away due lack of resources.

DID YOU KNOW?
  • 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men in the United States have experienced some form of physical violence by an intimate partner.
  • On a typical day, domestic violence hotlines receive approximately 21,000 calls, an average of close to 15 calls every minute.
  • Intimate partner violence accounts for 15% of all violent crime.
  • The presence of a gun in the home during a domestic violence incident increases the risk of homicide by at least 500%.
  • 72% of all murder-suicides involved an intimate partner; 94% of the victims of these crimes are female.

LOCAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAMS (for more info, click below)