From Awareness to Action: DVAM 2025
October marks Domestic Violence Awareness Month — a time to honor survivors, remember those we’ve lost, and take action to end abuse in our communities.
Domestic violence affects people of all backgrounds, all ages, and all genders. It’s not always visible, and it’s not always physical. Abuse can take the form of emotional control, financial dependence, coercion, or intimidation — and it thrives in silence.
📊 The Numbers — and What They Tell Us
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men in the United States experience physical, sexual, or stalking violence from an intimate partner during their lifetime.
What’s heartbreaking is that these numbers have barely changed over time. Despite decades of advocacy, education, and new laws, the rate of domestic and intimate partner violence remains stubbornly consistent — a sobering sign that there is still much work to be done.
When researchers expand the definition to include contact sexual violence, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner, the numbers rise even higher — affecting approximately 41 % of women and 26 % of men, according to the CDC’s National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS).
Behind these statistics are real lives — survivors, families, and children whose futures have been shaped by trauma and resilience. The fact that these numbers have held steady for so long is a reminder that awareness alone isn’t enough — action and prevention must follow.
“Nationally, the numbers have barely changed — and that’s what should move us most.”
💡 A Closer Look: Massachusetts Trends
In Massachusetts, there have been some encouraging signs in recent years. Certain regions, such as MetroWest, report that domestic-violence incident rates have declined after earlier peaks. That suggests education, prevention, and coordinated community responses may be making a difference.
But researchers urge caution. Reported declines can reflect more than progress — they can also reflect changes in population, reporting, or access to help. The state’s overall data remain mixed, with some types of domestic violence decreasing while others, including severe assaults, appear to be rising.
And there’s another layer often overlooked — the so-called “immigration effect.”
As the American Family Center notes:
“Some reports show domestic violence incidents declining in parts of Massachusetts — a hopeful sign at first glance. But researchers caution that such declines can also reflect deeper complexities.
In communities with large immigrant or mixed-status populations, fear of deportation, cultural stigma, or lack of access to resources can all reduce reporting. As a result, fewer recorded cases don’t always mean less violence — they can mean more silence.
Until every person feels safe coming forward, no one can truly say the numbers have gone down.”
Still, if even small declines represent true progress, they remind us that community-based education, prevention programs, and advocacy can change lives — when sustained over time.
💬 Awareness Is the First Step — But Not the Last
At the American Family Center (AFC), our work centers on both awareness and action.
- Wednesday’s Women — a community program offering dignity, professional attire, and support for women rebuilding their lives after abuse.
- Choices Interactive — a prevention and education initiative that helps individuals recognize unhealthy relationship patterns and make safer choices.
These programs are built on a simple belief: when communities come together to talk, teach, and act, change begins.
🕊️ How You Can Help
This October, we invite you to stand with survivors and help change the story:
- Learn: Share resources with family and friends.
- Support: Make a donation or host a Dine & Donate event to benefit programs like Wednesday’s Women.
- Speak: Use your voice. Post, share, and talk openly — because silence protects the abuser, not the victim.
Awareness is the spark. Action is the light that follows. Together, we can make sure that light never goes out.
The American Family Center is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, free from government alignment or funding. Our work is made possible through the generosity of individuals, businesses, and foundations who share our commitment to stronger, safer communities.
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