New York state has launched a special COVID-19 task force to address the significant increases in domestic violence cases during its stay-at-home order.
to support victims and survivors. Led by Secretary to the Governor Melissa DeRosa, the task force has outlined a series of recommendations to update and improve domestic violence services, from mobile advocacy to better access to shelters and support groups. “In every crisis there's an opportunity,” DeRosa tells.
Amid lockdown in March, there was a 15% increase in domestic violence calls to the New York State Police, and in April and May, there was a 30% increase in calls to the New York State Domestic Violence hotline. “It shouldn't be that surprising when you consider the circumstances,” says DeRosa of the sobering statistics. “You've got a very high stress situation, people are trapped in their homes, emotions are running high...
The realities of sheltering in place were a concern for many domestic violence survivors and advocates, including task force member and president and CEO of the Ruth M. Glenn. “One of the tools perpetrators use to abuse and keep control is isolation,” Glenn explains. “So the moment that we understood the impact that [stay-at-home orders] were going to have on us as a nation, we immediately were very concerned about victims and survivors.
The longer New Yorkers sheltered in place, the more it became clear to DeRosa that technology was the most important means of addressing the issue head-on. “You can't have a system that’s totally based on a hotline when you’re telling people they can't leave their house,” she explains.
To ensure that the task force was directly addressing racial disparities, it tapped 27 advocates, service providers, and thought leaders from across the country, and within different communities, to pool their thoughts, feelings, and expertise. Some of the other members include Alejandra Y. Castillo, CEO of
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