AUSTIN, Texas,
Sept. 18, 2014
/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Domestic Violence Hotline (the
Hotline) is pleased to announce that the National Football League (NFL)
has committed to providing significant resources to the organization
that will allow the organization to virtually answer every call, chat
and text from domestic violence victims, survivors, their loved ones and
even abusers for the next five years.
"We have never had the funding needed to meet the demand for our
services from those seeking help with domestic violence and dating
abuse. Last year, because of this lack of resources, more than 77,000
calls went unanswered. Recent domestic violence incidents involving NFL
players pushed the capacity of our organization to unprecedented
levels," said
Katie Ray-Jones, president
and chief executive officer of the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
"Because of this long-term commitment by the NFL to provide The Hotline
with much-needed resources, our services will finally be accessible to
all those who need us when they bravely take the first step to find
safety and live a life free of abuse."
Immediately following the release of video last week showing former Baltimore Ravens running back
Ray Rice
punching his then-fiancé in an elevator, the Hotline's call volume
increased by 84% and has remained higher than normal with spikes
happening after each new report about domestic violence charges against
NFL players. As the controversies continue, the Hotline has been unable
to answer nearly 50 percent of the calls, chats and texts.
"Our decision to enter into a long-term partnership with the NFL will
help us immediately increase our ability to hire additional advocates,
improve our infrastructure and provide more education about domestic
violence that affects one in four women and one in seven men in their
lifetimes," said
Maury Lane, chair of the board of the National Domestic Violence Hotline. "It is important that we answer their calls."
Of those who reach out to the Hotline for help, 95% are experiencing
emotional and verbal abuse including degradation, insults, humiliation,
isolation, stalking, and threats of violence against themselves and
their children and loved ones. Often, the abuser threatens suicide. More
than 70% are experiencing severe physical violence and say they've been
slapped, choked, punched, pistol whipped and beaten. This physical
abuse has resulted in bruises, cuts, miscarriages, broken bones. Nearly
10% of those reaching out to the Hotline for help have experienced
sexual violence. They've been raped, exploited, sexually coerced, even
forced to get pregnant in order to keep them tied to their abuser.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline is a non-profit organization
established in 1996 as a component of the Violence Against Women Act
(VAWA).
Operating around the clock, confidential and free of cost, the
Hotline provides victims and survivors with life-saving tools and
immediate support. Callers to the hotline 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) can
expect highly trained advocates to offer compassionate support, crisis
intervention information and referral services in more than 200
languages. Visitors to
TheHotline.org can find information about domestic violence, safety planning, local resources, and ways to support the organization.
The Hotline relies on the generous support of individuals, private
gifts from corporations and foundations and federal grants. It is funded
in part by
Grant Number 90EV0407/03 from
the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)/ Family Violence
Prevention and Services Program, a division of the Family and Youth
Services Bureau in the Administration for Children and Families. Its
contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not
necessarily represent the official views of the Administration for
Children and Families or the U.S. Department of HHS.
Contact Information:
Lisa Lawrence
Phone: (512) 426-4904
E-mail:
lisalawrencepr@gmail.com
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SOURCE The National Domestic Violence Hotline
RELATED LINKS
http://www.thehotline.org
