Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM)

October was Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM), a national effort to acknowledge domestic violence survivors, create community awareness about the effects of domestic violence, and identify available resources and support.

On October 20, 2021, the Office of Institutional Equity sponsored a domestic violence information session with presenters from the Victim Intervention Program at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center (NYP-VIP) and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.

During the presentation, Monica Castro, Victim Intervention Program Social Worker at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center (NYP-VIP), and Lawrence Newman, Assistant District Attorney, Chief of the Domestic Violence Unit from the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, discussed:

  • The dynamics of domestic violence and its effects.
  • An overview of the criminal justice process and potential legal resources available to survivors.
  • The trauma-informed support/resources that NYP-VIP can offer students, staff, and faculty.

We also learned that, on average, one out of three women and one out of four men in the United States will experience rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner, and 71% of the cases of family violence-related homicides in NYC have no contact with the police.¹  However, they do have contact with health care professionals, and the medical community is on the front lines to identify and assist survivors. 

We invite Weill Cornell Medicine faculty, staff, and students to download a copy of the session presentation: Domestic Violence & Trauma-Related Care. We are grateful to Monica Castro for making her presentation available for the community.

We encourage you to visit the NYP Victim Intervention Program website to learn more about their services.

1. Medical Providers’ Guide to Managing the Care of Domestic Violence Patients within a Cultural Context

Weill Cornell Medicine Office of Institutional Equity 575 Lexington Ave, 6th FL New York, NY 10022