Family Violence Council Report
This is the 9th Family Violence Counsel Report that covers the period between July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2019 (fiscal years 2018 and 2019). This comprehensive report, compiled by the San Francisco Department on the Status of Women and approved by the San Francisco Family Violence Council, includes data from more than 10 City public agencies and 27 community-based organizations.Recommendations
The Family Violence Council has prioritized recommendations that are focused specifically on the City’s response to COVID-19.
- Request emergency funding for agencies engaged in prevention of and response to child abuse, domestic violence, and elder abuse to ensure that frontline staff are supported in response to COVID-19.
- Increase awareness around family violence during COVID-19.
- Ensure that providers and first responders have the necessary tools and training to be able to assess family violence and provide resources to victims and those at risk.
- Ensure that all City departments that are members of the Family Violence Council create a response plan to address and prevent family violence in disaster planning.
Overall Key Findings
Key findings for all forms of family violence are summarized below.
Finding 1:
There are clear racial disparities across all three forms of family violence; reported family violence disproportionately impacts Black/African American and Latinx populations.
Finding 2:
Family violence disproportionately affects women and girls.
Finding 3:
The use of weapons, especially firearms, in domestic violence incidents is on the rise.
- There has been an increase in 911 calls concerning weapons and multiple homicides related to firearms
- Between FY 2018 and FY 2019, there was a 44% increase in armed assailants with guns.
Finding 4:
There remains a significant need for shelter for survivors of family violence in San Francisco: four out of five clients are turned away from emergency shelter.