Month: October 2024

domestic violence awareness month

October 2024: Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Posted on | by CareAvailability

October marks Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM), a crucial time to unite advocates, survivors, and communities in the ongoing effort to end domestic violence. This year’s theme, “Heal, Hold, and Center,” emphasizes the importance of healing from violence, holding space for survivors, and centering those most marginalized in our efforts to combat this pervasive issue.

The Scope of Domestic Violence

Domestic violence remains a widespread problem affecting millions of Americans across all demographics. Startling statistics reveal the magnitude of this issue:

  • One in three women and one in four men will experience some form of domestic violence in their lifetime.

  • Nearly half of LGBTQ+ individuals will face domestic abuse.

  • On average, 20 people are physically abused by intimate partners every minute, resulting in over 10 million victims annually.

These numbers underscore that domestic violence is not an isolated issue but a systemic problem requiring collective, community-based solutions.

The 2024 Campaign: #Every1KnowsSome1

This year’s national campaign, #Every1KnowsSome1, highlights the prevalence of domestic violence in our society. It emphasizes that each of us likely knows someone who has experienced domestic abuse, whether we realize it or not. This campaign aims to break the silence surrounding domestic violence and encourage open dialogue and support for survivors.

How to Get Involved

There are numerous ways to participate in DVAM 2024:

  1. Attend Local Events: Participate in educational workshops, candlelight vigils, and community forums organized by local domestic violence programs.

  1. Social Media Engagement: Share survivor stories, resources, and educational content using the hashtags #HealHoldCenter, #DVAM2024, and #Every1KnowsSome1.

  1. Purple Thursday: On October 17, wear purple to show support for survivors and share a selfie using #PurpleThursday.

  1. Give For DV Day: On October 24, contribute to or organize fundraisers to support critical services for survivors.

The Importance of Awareness

DVAM serves as a reminder that domestic violence is not a private matter but a community issue. By acknowledging its prevalence and engaging in meaningful conversations and actions, we can work collectively towards ending it. This month provides an opportunity to educate ourselves and others about the signs of abuse, available resources, and ways to support survivors. As we observe DVAM 2024, let’s commit to creating safer, healthier communities where everyone is free from the threat of violence. Remember, there is no survivor justice without racial justice, and our efforts must be inclusive and intersectional. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of survivors and work towards a future free from domestic violence.

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233

Learn more about the significance of previous months here.

Progress Made in The Fight Against Alzheimer’s

Posted on | by Alzheimer's Association

Pivotal Legislation to Renew National Commitment to Addressing Alzheimer’s Signed into Law

Two pieces of critical bipartisan legislation that renew the nation’s commitment to the fight against Alzheimer’s and other dementia were signed into law: the NAPA Reauthorization Act and the Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act. These bipartisan bills will continue the critical work of the National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease to support Alzheimer’s research and improve the delivery of clinical care and services for people impacted by Alzheimer’s.

“Today is a significant day for those impacted by Alzheimer’s and other dementia throughout the nation. With the NAPA Reauthorization Act and the Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act signed into law, our nation has taken a major step forward in the fight against this devastating disease,” said Robert Egge, Alzheimer’s Association chief public policy officer and AIM president. “On behalf of the Alzheimer’s Association, thank you to our outstanding congressional champions on both sides of the aisle for your steadfast leadership and tireless efforts to advance these bills across the finish line.”

The NAPA Reauthorization Act reauthorizes the National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA) (P.L. 111-375) by extending the strategic National Plan and emphasizing the importance of healthy aging and risk reduction. Prior to NAPA, there was no comprehensive plan to address Alzheimer’s. In 2010, for every dollar the federal government spent on the cost of Alzheimer’s care, it invested less than a penny on research for the disease. NAPA has fundamentally changed the way the nation addresses Alzheimer’s and all other dementia.

The Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act builds on the original Alzheimer’s Accountability Act (AAA), which was first enacted in 2014. This bipartisan legislation ensures Congress will continue to hear directly from scientists at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on the Alzheimer’s and dementia research funding needed to achieve the goals in the National Plan.

“Today we can reflect on how far we’ve come since the passage of NAPA and AAA. We now have multiple Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved Alzheimer’s treatments, better understanding of risk factors and prevention, improved dementia care and support, and we are closer than ever to biomarker tests, which will improve access to earlier and more accessible diagnosis,” said Egge. “With these two reauthorizations, the progress of the next decade will bring additional breakthroughs that improve the lives of people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementia and their families.”

The NAPA Reauthorization Act and the Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act were introduced by Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), and Mark Warner (D-Va.) in the Senate, and Reps. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.) and Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) in the House.

“Over the last decade, Congress has taken action to make historic investments in Alzheimer’s research, expanded the dementia public health infrastructure and improved access to quality care and support,” said Egge. “Thanks to our incredible advocates and bipartisan congressional champions, our nation is enacting laws like the NAPA Reauthorization Act and the Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act, changing the trajectory of this devastating disease until we one day achieve our vision of a world without Alzheimer’s and all other dementia.”