Domestic Violence Awareness Month: Supporting and Strengthening Survivors in California

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness, support survivors, and highlight vital resources for those impacted by domestic violence. 

Through its Victim Services Branch, Cal OES supports a statewide network of programs that provide crisis intervention, advocacy, counseling, emergency shelter, and other essential services.  

This includes six programs dedicated exclusively to strengthening the state’s response to domestic violence and supporting survivors. 

1. Domestic Violence Assistance: The program provides local assistance to domestic violence service providers throughout California, supporting comprehensive services for victims and survivors. These services include emergency shelter for survivors of domestic violence and their children. 
2. Domestic Violence Housing First: The program provides victims of domestic violence with safe, permanent housing and ongoing, trauma-informed services tailored to their individual needs. These services empower survivors to make their own choices and rebuild their lives on their own terms. 
   • Victim’s testimony: A client of Crisis Intervention Services, Mrs. Doe, experienced long-term domestic violence, including physical, emotional, and financial abuse, as well as medical neglect. While seeking safety for herself and her 12-year-old son, she faced significant barriers, limited support, and financial hardship. Following the respondent’s relocation out of state, she continued navigating a serious medical diagnosis requiring ongoing treatment and multiple procedures. Unable to work due to her health, she faced housing instability while remaining her son’s primary caregiver. Crisis Intervention Services provided housing assistance, mental health support, and case management, helping Mrs. Doe maintain safe, stable housing for herself and her son. These services reduced the risk of homelessness and allowed her to focus on medical care, parenting, and long-term stability. (Note: Name changed to protect confidentiality.)
3. Equality in Domestic Violence & Prevention: The program provides culturally responsive education, prevention, outreach, and services for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) individuals. It aims to improve access to domestic violence resources and support for this underserved community.
4. Domestic Violence Response Team: The program helps communities develop and implement coordinated response protocols and practices for domestic violence incidents. It strengthens collaboration between domestic violence service providers and law enforcement, particularly in communities with a demonstrated need for improved coordination.
5. State Coalition Training and Technical Assistance: The program supports domestic violence service providers throughout California by offering technical assistance, informational resources, and networking opportunities. Support may include an annual conference to promote collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and best practices across the field.
6. Statewide Domestic Violence Prevention Resource Center: The program provides financial and technical assistance to local domestic and family violence centers to implement prevention programs. It also supports the development and statewide distribution of family violence prevention information and materials, and maintains a resource center for collecting, preserving, and sharing educational materials on family violence and prevention. 

 Together with our state partners, the California Victim Compensation Board (CalVCB), California Interagency Council on Homelessness (Cal ICH), and California Civil Rights Department (CRD)we help survivors access the services, support, and resources they need to heal, rebuild, and move forward. 

1. Transitional Housing: The program provides victims and survivors of crime with short-term or transitional housing assistance and supportive services to help them secure safe, permanent housing. 
   • Victim’s testimony: “Mary” came to Stand Up Placer seeking safety and stability for herself and her children after years of domestic violence. Having fled the abuse, she was experiencing homelessness and significant debt. Through the XH Program, she received 12 months of housing assistance, case management, and connections to essential services. With this support, Mary enrolled in vocational training, secured temporary full-time employment, and accessed subsidized childcare. She is also reducing her debt, building savings, and attending counseling with her children to support their healing. Mary now feels more confident in her ability to support her family independently. Her journey demonstrates how comprehensive support can help survivors achieve healing, independence, and long-term housing stability.
2. .Violence Against Women Vertical Prosecution: The program strengthens the criminal justice system’s response to violent crimes against women through coordinated, multidisciplinary prosecution, including specialized units staffed by qualified prosecutors and victim advocates.
3. Law Enforcement Specialized Units: The program establishes or enhances specialized units to provide coordinated support for domestic violence survivors and their children, as well as sexual assault survivors ages 11 and older. Services include investigations, immediate victim advocacy, first-responder training, and sustainable practices and protocols to strengthen the response to survivors.
4. Native American Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault: The program provides supportive services to Native American women and their children who have experienced domestic violence and/or sexual assault.
   • Victim’s Testimony: Jennifer, a Native American survivor of domestic violence and sexual abuse, has overcome significant challenges, including childhood trauma and financial abuse. Despite these hardships, she earned an associate degree and received a scholarship to attend a California State University. Through the Cal OES Native American Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Grant Program, Jennifer received therapy, advocacy, and case management that helped her build confidence, establish healthy boundaries, and continue her healing journey. (Note: Name changed to protect confidentiality.) 
5. Statewide Prevention Coordination: The program fosters collaboration among stakeholders, partners, and service providers to advance statewide intimate partner violence, teen dating violence, and sexual assault prevention efforts. The subrecipient also provides subject matter expertise to support Cal OES in developing and implementing the Intimate Partner Violence Prevention (FD) Program. 
6. Probation Specialized Units: The program supports specialized units within California probation departments that provide enhanced supervision through reduced caseloads for individuals on probation for domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and/or stalking offenses.
7. Farmworker Women’s Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence: The program funds services and initiatives addressing sexual assault and domestic violence among monolingual Spanish-speaking and low-income farmworker women.
8. Intimate Partner Violence Prevention: The program supports prevention efforts addressing intimate partner violence (IPV), including teen dating violence (TDV). All applicants must address both areas and may also include sexual assault prevention activities. 
   • Victim’s testimony: HARRT successfully completed its school-year clubs with strong student engagement across all sites. Students at Cardozo, Del Puerto, Hughson High, and Central Valley expressed enthusiasm to return, recruit new members, and help plan activities. Hughson High students even described HARRT days as their favorite day of the week. Facilitators also observed increased confidence and participation among students who became more outgoing throughout the year, highlighting the program’s positive impact on social engagement. 

Also, there are also five programs dedicated to training criminal justice personnel statewide to improve responses to domestic violence cases. These programs provide public defenders throughout California with consistent, up-to-date, trauma-informed training, publications, and resources on crimes against women, grounded in evidence-based best practices and validated assessment tools. Every survivor deserves safety, support, and the opportunity to thrive. 

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