According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, “An average of 24 people per minute are victims of rape, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner in the United States – more than 12 million women and men over the course of a single year.”

This Wednesday, PREVAIL collaborated with CSU Stanislaus’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) and Basic Needs to host a domestic violence awareness roundtable discussion for Domestic Violence Awareness Month. At the event, topics were brought up such as the complexity of statistics, systemic flaws, love and fear, and the range of services offered by PREVAIL.

PREVAIL, formerly the Women’s Center – Youth and Family Services, stands for Pioneering Restoration and Elevating Voices of Advocacy, Idealism, and Leadership. Their purpose is to be “the primary provider of free, confidential shelters and services specifically designed to meet the needs of young people experiencing homelessness and individuals, families, and children experiencing domestic violence, sexual assault, and sex trafficking in San Joaquin County.”

Jaclyn Garcia, CAPS counselor at CSU Stanislaus Stockton Campus, asked if domestic violence rates were increasing or decreasing, leading to an in-depth discussion of the nuances of domestic violence statistics.

The Director of Community Engagement for PREVAIL, Elizabeth Sanchez, said, “Domestic violence rates are increasing, however, that does not necessarily mean that it is happening more often; it just means that it is being reported more often.” This exposes the extent of the prevalence of domestic violence, especially when considering how shocking domestic violence statistics already are.

Leticia Caballero, the Basic Needs Lead on the Stockton Campus, added to the discussion by pointing out the way our society’s views are evolving.

“As we decrease stigma around the issue of domestic violence, and we increase education and access to resources, people are more likely to report things that wouldn’t have been reported in the past,” Caballero said.

On the topic of law enforcement, the group discussed a difference in objectives between law enforcement officers and members of PREVAIL. An officer’s main objective is to de-escalate, keep the peace, and provide safety in an immediate sense. Meanwhile, the main objective of an organizational team member is to educate and coach with long-term solutions in mind.

Officers have an important role in domestic violence situations, but improvements can be made in cultivating psychological awareness of domestic violence issues in order to approach situations with more sensitivity and patience.

Consideration surfaced about how the prevalence of domestic violence and calls for the same individuals can cause exasperation and impatience. According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, however, it takes a victim 7 attempts to leave their abuser before finally leaving for good. Sanchez acknowledges that many people in abusive relationships truly want to make things work.

This is something the organization understands and is highly equipped to work with.

Karina Garcia-Aguilar, a crisis program coordinator with PREVAIL, says, “Anyone who comes to us for help can stay in the relationship. Everyone’s situation is different.”

“We educate them to give them their power back so, with that information, they can be empowered to make these decisions for themselves,” she continues.

Sanchez shares that they work with law enforcement closely, bridging the gap between the different objectives, allowing survivors to more easily connect with resources. Sanchez and Garcia-Aguilar explained that when the Stockton Police Department responds to a domestic violence incident, “they are required to ask the client questions and if they answer yes to at least one of the questions they are then required to connect the client with us via phone so that we can discuss our services.”

PREVAIL educates individuals of the different types of abuse and informs them of their legal rights, and also provides legal assistance with things such as restraining orders and case management.

They also provide safe, undisclosed emergency shelters for individuals. “What makes our shelters unique from others, is primarily that boys at a certain age are not allowed in shelters,” Sanchez says, “But we will take in a victim regardless of gender.”

Additionally, while the housing has a congregational style, the shelters are designed and decorated much like homes.

Beyond the topic of domestic violence, PREVAIL offers a plethora of resources and connects people with a myriad of programs and organizations to help survivors of domestic violence, sexual abuse, and human trafficking.

They also have a 24-hour help line.