DEPARTMENT: Metropolitan Health District
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Colleen M. Bridger, MPH, PhD, Interim Assistant City Manager
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Domestic Violence and Intimate Partner Violence Comprehensive Strategy
SUMMARY:
On May 8, 2019 Councilwoman Shirley Gonzales and Councilman Manny Pelaez submitted a Council Consideration Request (CCR) requesting to prioritize and increase funding for a comprehensive domestic violence and intimate partner violence (IPV) education, response, and prevention strategy.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Effects of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) are far reaching and touch every aspect of an abused person's life. IPV encompasses physical violence, sexual violence, stalking, and psychological aggression. IPV increases economic segregation, increases unemployment, impedes academic achievement, increases likelihood of drug addiction, increases mental health risks, reduces access to healthcare and makes that healthcare more expensive. Intimate Partner Violence is estimated to cost the United States $9.3 billion dollars a year.
When one considers that employers frequently absorb their workers' healthcare costs, the impact on business is enormous. Healthcare costs for female victims of IPV are 42% higher than those for non-abused women. The National Center for Injury Prevention and Control found that in 2017 the average cost per incident was $4,273. Conversely, mental health service costs were estimated at $1,631. More telling is the number of work days lost by victims experiencing abusive behavior. Analysis of NVAWS data showed that victims of stalking lost an average of 10.1 days of paid work per year, victims of rape lost 8.1 days, and victims of physical violence lost 7.2 days a year.
In Texas, more than 5 million people have experienced IPV and 1 in 3 Texas women will experience domestic violence in their lifetime. When compared to other counties, Bexar County has a higher homicide rate for women. Like any other major city, San Antonio has distinct areas, mainly within the inner city and southern portion of the city that are marked high risk for IPV. Additionally, the rates of LGBTQ IPV outpace domestic violence rates experienced by heterosexual victims.
While Metro Health has identified violence prevention as one of their strategic health priorities, with a specific focus on preventing IPV, and countless nonprofit organizations have been working to help victims of IPV, this issue needs to be a budget priority for the city. The demonstrated economic and societal impact of IPV indicates that in order for San Antonio to become a city truly dedicated to equity and quality of life for all, we must develop a comprehensive strategy to IPV - a data driven strategy that addresses public education, shelter resources, business response, delegate agency partnerships, faith community support, access to healthcare, legal resources, immigrant and homeless services, transitional and permanent housing, IPV among military members and their dependents, batterer intervention initiatives, and SAPD response.
ISSUE:
This briefing provides a timeline for completion of Councilwoman Shirley Gonzales and Councilman Manny Pelaez’s Council Consideration Request (CCR) requesting a domestic violence and intimate partner violence comprehensive strategy.
ALTERNATIVES:
City Council could choose not to take any action on the Council Consideration Request (CCR) which would not enable staff to establish a comprehensive strategy to address domestic violence and intimate partner violence.
FISCAL IMPACT:
A fiscal impact has not been determined.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends moving the CCR forward to the Community Health and Equity Committee, and/or the Public Safety Committee.