The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors recently approved a motion authored by Supervisors Sheila Kuehl, 3rd District, and Hilda Solis, 1st District, to intensify the county’s efforts to address domestic violence and intimate partner violence.

The motion will relocate the county’s Domestic Violence Council to become part of the Department of Public Health, and provides permanent funding and staff to support the council.

“This motion moves domestic/intimate partner violence to the forefront of county thinking and planning, and demonstrates the board’s recognition that domestic/intimate partner violence is deeply implicated in other county programs such as homelessness,” Kuehl said. “Two years ago, a report on homelessness showed that almost two-thirds of the nearly 14,000 women experiencing homelessness had been victims of domestic or intimate partner violence. There is so much more that we must do to protect and support survivors of domestic/intimate partner violence, and we are going to move quickly to do it.”

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department logged approximately 10,290 domestic violence reports in 2016.

“Elevating and strengthening the role of the Domestic Violence Council is one of the most important steps we’ve taken in years to address the impact of domestic violence on families across Los Angeles County,” said Amy Goldman, an attorney with Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County whose organization provides legal assistance to survivors of domestic and intimate partner violence. “The proposed changes will allow the council to inform policy, ensuring the needs of survivors are considered in areas such as housing, community safety, healthcare and public benefits.”

Recent research on domestic and intimate partner violence indicates that it impacts the immediate physical and mental health of survivors, and has long-term physical and emotional health consequences, including negative effects on children.

For information, visit dvcouncil.lacounty.gov.