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It’s that time of year, filled with Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa and New Year celebrations. For many people, the holidays are an opportunity to come together with family and foster connections and belonging. However, for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, it can be a time of increased abuse, reliving traumatic past events, and not receiving the appropriate supports for safety.

Debbie Chang, foundation president and CEO, shares reflections on the 2024 Grantmakers for Effective Organizations conference.

This new research from UCSF Benioff Homelessness & Housing Initiative shows that 81% of people experiencing homelessness and domestic violence (also called intimiate partner violence) report spending most of their nights in unsheltered settings — outdoors or in other places not meant for habitation, such as cars.

This commentary provides detailed examples of two domestic violence prevention strategies: interrupting the multigenerational cycle of domestic violence and addressing it as a health equity issue. Family-strengthening approaches to prevention and justice and increasing economic security are key. Insight into regional policies and programs can inform implementation of the national plan and DV prevention in other states and localities.

Debbie Chang and Esta Soler on the broad societal implications of ending the cycle of domestic violence, which has touched the lives of 58% of California adults.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October has been designated as a time to consider the long-lasting and significant personal and societal harms of domestic violence. Of course, the problem is not confined to one month a year; and it is both a cause and a result of issues our society grapples with, such as poverty, racial and gender inequity, and homelessness. This means solutions must include sectors not always associated with the cycle of abuse — like banking, social welfare, and housing. Fortunately, that is starting to happen.

With paid family leave on the agenda in D.C., we have an opportunity to ensure California’s experience informs a better federal policy.

As California opens access to the COVID-19 vaccine for all adults, we need to prioritize those on the front lines, in need of financial resources, in order to reach populations and neighborhoods hardest hit by the pandemic. The Latinx communities that have been disproportionately impacted are particularly vulnerable because they also face a multitude of economic and social inequities.

Child care is a critical part of the fabric of our society—it supports children’s healthy development and supports their parents and caregivers by enabling them to engage fully in the workforce. Children in child care arrangements receive a range of essential services. Access to nutritious food and the opportunity to establish healthy eating habits at a young age are some of the most fundamental supports provided by child care programs.

Inequities that increase the risk of childhood trauma and domestic violence have worsened during the pandemic. "We envision a future in the Bay Area where leaders, communities and residents unite to prevent pervasive adversities in childhood and promote healthy development.” Alongside Genentech and Futures Without Violence, Blue Shield of California Foundation is going “All in for Kids” in to prevent domestic violence and help kids heal and thrive.

Complex, uncertain and volatile. These words only begin to describe our world today. The pandemic flipped lives upside down, compromising the physical health of over six million people—disproportionately Black, Indigenous and People of Color—and the mental and emotional health of countless more. The urgent calls for racial justice require all of us reflect on our core values and identify ways we can help dismantle systemic racism.

The fast pace of current events, dangers of the COVID-19 pandemic, and uncertainty about the upcoming November 2020 election, and the high stakes for health, equity, and economic recovery are dominating our waking hours and keeping us up at night. The stress is real. And, the impact is not evenly distributed. The pandemic is exploiting and worsening existing inequities, by taking lives and livelihoods. It presents a challenge, a responsibility, and an opportunity. This is a moment to seize the potential of focusing on child care workers as a linchpin for broader health and economic benefits.

Together, domestic violence and lack of affordable housing make life exponentially harder for those who experience them. Recognizing the deep

This commentary by the executive director of our grantee, Cultiva La Salud, illuminates the risks that come along with sheltering in place for many undocumented victims of domestic violence.