Investigating the Intersection of Covid-19 and Domestic Violence
By Murphy Freal and Sarah Lipo
After seemingly endless months of social distancing, the Marquette and Milwaukee community came together virtually to discuss domestic violence amidst the stress of a global pandemic during Domestic Violence Prevention Month. During Investigating the Intersection of Covid-19 and Domestic Violence, our panel of experts discussed the prevalence of domestic violence since the beginning of COVID-19. They highlighted the resources available to students and our community.
Joining us from Marquette University was Katy Adler (Coordinator for Advocacy Services and Sexual Violence Prevention and Education), Kacie Otto (Violence Prevention Specialist and victim advocate), Kristin Krepple (Title IX Coordinator), Jeff Kranz (Assistant MUPD Chief), and Olivia Ward (President of Alpha Chi Omega). Each panelist offered a unique perspective on domestic violence and its role in our lives and the community.
Together, our team of peer educators and panel members also discussed a few key statistics from the last few months. As of the end of August, more than ⅓ of the world’s population is under some form of mandatory social isolation to curve the spread of Covid-19. Social isolation is one of the most prominent abuse tactics in domestic violence cases, causing countries like the United States to see a substantial surge of calls to their national domestic violence hotline.
Additionally, the global pandemic has caused many people to experience economic issues and financial stress. These are the most significant contributors to the rise of domestic violence during this time, even if there was no prior history of abuse. Lastly, many schools have switched to a virtual teaching method, restricting children’s’ access to many mental and physical health services. This has also led to a decrease in reporting because teachers and education professionals are responsible for reporting about 20% of domestic abuse cases annually.
If you or anyone you know is experiencing domestic violence, do not hesitate to reach out to Milwaukee Women’s Shelter, The National Domestic Violence Hotline, or the Latina Resource Center. Phone numbers and contact information are listed below. Also, if you would like to get involved in promoting awareness and the prevention of domestic violence in your community, reach out to the Sojourner Family Peace Center.
Resources and Volunteer Opportunities
Marquette University
Advocacy Hotline
(414) — 288–5244
MUPD
(414) — 288–6800
Milwaukee:
MKE Women’s Center — 24 Hour Hotline
(414) — 671–6140
Daystar — Long-Term Housing for Women Leaving Abusive Relationships
(414) — 385–0334 / www.daystarinc.org
PathFinders — Emergency Shelter for Youth
(414) — 271–1560 / www.pathfindersmke.org
Aurora Healing and Advocacy Services
(414) — 219–5555 / www.aurorahealthcare.org/healing-advocacy-services
Sojourner Family Peace Center:
(414) — 933–2722 / www.
https://www.familypeacecenter.org/dvam2020 — DV Awareness Month Resources
https://www.familypeacecenter.org/untilshecan — Until She Can Campaign videos
https://www.familypeacecenter.org/get-involved — Volunteer Opportunities
Additional:
https://www.presence.io/blog/7-ways-you-can-support-students-facing-domestic-violence-during-the-pandemic/ — Ways to Support Students
https://www.presence.io/blog/7-essential-tips-for-taking-your-victim-advocacy-support-virtual/ — Virtual Advocacy Tips
