Domestic Violence Surging Alongside COVID-19

If you or someone you know needs help to escape from domestic violence, call the Illinois Domestic Violence Helpline at 877-TO-END DV or 1-877-863-6338

You can also call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-SAFE or 800-799-7233

In Illinois, more than 37 percent of women and 25 of men experience physical violence, sexual violence or stalking from an intimate partner in their lifetimes. Like other issues, domestic violence as been exacerbated by the stress of a global pandemic.

The 21st was joined by a community engagement coordinator for the city of Rockford and a domestic violence survivor who works as a Survivor Support Specialist, a manager of the Rockford Mayor’s Office of Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking Prevention and the executive director of Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence to talk about how Illinois compares to others states when it comes to the problem of domestic violence and the needs of survivors during the pandemic.

Guests:

Delicia Harris, Domestic Violence Survivor, Community Engagement Coordinator, City of Rockford 

Vickie Smith, Executive Director, Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence  

Jennifer K. Cacciapaglia, Manager,  Rockford Mayor’s Office of Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking Prevention

Prepared for web by Zainab Qureshi

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