A coordinated response also offers victims and their children a wider selection of options, so they can choose services that meet their individual needs for legal and for community support services. The key to a coordinated response is continuous, ongoing training of all agency personnel. This ensures appropriate, consistent responses that hold batterers accountable for their abusive behavior and protect the victims and their children from further violence. Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women in the United States. Our community can no longer afford to remain silent, in effect passively condoning the violence.
Domestic violence can occur in any family and in any relationship.
A collaborative work group, which includes domestic violence victim agencies, perpetrator treatment professionals, the King County Prosecutor's Office , the YWCA of Seattle-King County, youth serving agencies, local businesses, corporations, and community members, have joined together to develop and implement this campaign. Brochures about the Warning Signs of Domestic Violence and community service agencies are available. We will be using posters, transit ads, events, press kits, news releases, television and radio public service announcements, and a special domestic violence prevention project in the area schools as elements of the campaign. The King County Information Line, at 205-5555, is also a part of the public education effort. There are two types of programs that train volunteers to provide services to persons affected by domestic violence.