FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 28, 2019

Media Contacts:

• Jessica Merrill, Communications Manager: jessica@cpedv.org | (916) 444-7163, ext. 118
• Lorena Campos, Communications Coordinator: lcampos@calcasa.org | 916.446.2520, ext. 316

California budget includes $5 million in funding to prevent sexual and domestic violence

Leaders prioritize proactive strategies to address root causes of violence

California’s final budget includes $5 million toward ending sexual and domestic violence in California by allocating funding for prevention focused programs. California Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CALCASA) CEO Sandra Henriquez, and California Partnership to End Domestic Violence (Partnership) Director of Programs Jacquie Marroquin responded with this joint statement: 

“This funding allocation puts resources behind long-term solutions that lead to cultural shifts. This is a critical investment aimed at addressing the sexual harassment, sexual assault and domestic violence in our state. In California, 86% of women and 53% of men reported experiencing some form of sexual harassment and/or assault in their lifetime, and an estimated 1.6 million women and men experience domestic violence each year. In pockets of California, organizations committed to ending sexual and domestic violence have been successful in their proactive approaches to ending violence in their communities. This funding will expand and deepen that work all across the state.

Prevention works by teaching safe and healthy relationship skills to school-age youth, improving school climates and safety with peer lead programs, shifting culture by engaging boys and men in gender equity, and promoting racial justice with culturally-responsive solutions. California leaders heard our call to address the impacts of sexual and domestic violence in California with a strategic investment of $5 million from the state general fund. Moving forward we will continue to address the need for equitable permanent ongoing funding for the organizations that do this critical work. We are proud of our collaborative effort and thankful for the support of our legislative champions Senator Jim Beall and Assemblywoman Blanca Rubio, as well as the entire legislature, the Budget Committees and Governor Gavin Newsom. 

We also extend our deep gratitude to all who added their voice to our joint effort. 115 organizations throughout California signed our support letter, over 1,344 people added their names to our Change.org petition, and coalition members championed this effort with us by participating in many calls and legislative meetings. Thanks to this new funding, communities that didn’t have the capacity and necessary resources to focus on prevention will have opportunities to challenge the root causes of sexual and domestic violence. Prevention work requires a sustained focus, and our organizations will continue to ensure this is a priority in our work. We are committed to our long-term joint strategies of building awareness, supporting survivors, families and communities— and ultimately achieving our vision of ending sexual and domestic violence in California.”

About the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence

 The California Partnership to End Domestic Violence (the Partnership) is California’s recognized domestic violence coalition, representing over 1,000 survivors, advocates, organizations and allied individuals across the state. Working at the local, state and national levels for nearly 40 years, the Partnership has a long track record of successfully passing over 200 pieces of legislation on behalf of domestic violence victims and their children. The Partnership believes that by sharing expertise, advocates and legislators can end domestic violence. Through our public policy, communications and capacity building programs, we create system-wide change that supports survivors and invests in prevention. Every day we inspire, inform and connect all those concerned with this issue, because together we’re stronger. With offices in Sacramento, the Partnership’s member programs span the entire state. For more information, visit www.cpedv.org.

About the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault

CALCASA provides leadership, vision and resources to rape crisis centers, individuals and other entities committed to ending sexual violence. CALCASA is committed to ending sexual violence through a multifaceted approach of prevention, intervention, education, research, advocacy and public policy. Through ongoing communication and meetings with constituents, CALCASA relays the challenges and successes of local work to the statewide and national levels and best practices, evidence-based and practice-based programs at the state and national levels to local constituents. For more information, visit www.calcasa.org.