National Domestic Violence Hotline Unveils 10-Year Blueprint to Significantly Reduce Domestic Violence ...(problem of domestic violence. We rea...),Health

"We realized that the challenge of stopping violence is not for women or advocates to solve alone," continued Cates. "The goal of the Summit was to bring together a representation of all sectors of society to find common ground and bring a collaborative vision to address the issue of violence against women."

Based on outcomes of the Summit, the Decade for Change Report focuses on four primary thematic areas: public awareness; education and training; organizing men as role models, and primary prevention focusing on America's youth. The themes do not stand in isolation, but are interdependent in their approach to ending domestic violence. Among the many Report recommendations:

Theme One: Public Awareness

-- Shift public opinion and attitudes as well as social norms that say it

is okay to tolerate domestic violence to a national consensus that

violence against women is unacceptable.

"Creating safe families and communities is something we should all strive to support. The Decade for Change effort creates a voice for those who need to be heard by working to eliminate domestic violence," said Summit sponsor and panelist, Laysha Ward, vice president, community relations, Target.

Theme Two: Education and Training

-- Professional education and training must be integrated into every

system, both public and private, including school systems, health care

settings; corporate America, faith communities and the government.

-- New and innovative models should be utilized. Work should be community

driven, transformative and linked to certification and professional

requirements as part of a universal prevention approach.

"Education can provide an understanding that mass public awareness does not," said Summit sponsor, Jennifer Kuhn, program manager, The Allstate Foundation Domestic Violence Program. "Through targeted and consistent education, w
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