FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 10, 2020

Media Contacts:

• Jessica Merrill, Communications Manager: jessica@cpedv.org | (707) 330-6838
• John L. Finley, Senior Policy Associate: jfinley@calcasa.org | (916) 244-8006

California budget proposal excludes funding to prevent sexual and domestic violence

Dedicated funding urgently needed to address root causes of an ongoing crisis

Governor Newsom’s proposed budget left out essential funding to prevent—and end—sexual and domestic violence in California. California Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CALCASA) CEO Sandra Henriquez and California Partnership to End Domestic Violence (the Partnership) Executive Director Paul Castro responded with this joint statement: 

“Governor Gavin Newsom introduced his draft budget today, and the Partnership and CALCASA were disappointed to see California neglect to make any investment in the prevention of sexual & domestic violence. 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. 

Unfortunately, Governor Newsom has not yet heard the many survivors, families and communities demanding a critical, ongoing investment toward ending sexual assault and domestic violence in our state. California must be a leader in fostering an enduring culture of consent and healthy relationships, and we cannot afford to fall behind. 

Many organizations are already successfully advancing strategies that protect against violence—and yet are limited in their ability to reach every community or provide the depth of meaningful responses needed. It is crucial to expand and deepen this engagement across the state, and open the door to communities that haven’t had the capacity and necessary resources to focus on prevention.

Prevention works by teaching safe and healthy relationship skills to school-age youth, improving school climates and safety with peer led programs, shifting culture by engaging boys and men in gender equity, and promoting racial justice with culturally-responsive solutions. Importantly, it stops intergenerational cycles of violence for future generations. We continue to ask California leaders to address the ongoing crisis of sexual and domestic violence in California with a strategic yearly investment from the state general fund. Moving forward we will continue to address the need for equitable permanent funding for the organizations that do this critical work. While our request wasn’t met at this stage of the budget process, we will keep engaging the Governor’s office and legislature to ensure the final budget reflects the needs of our state and our communities. 

Prevention work requires a sustained focus, and 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.