The goal of prevention is to stop violence from happening in the first place. Research has shown that people who are victims of one form of violence are at a higher risk of experiencing other forms of violence and that different forms of violence many times share the same consequences. Prevention aims to understand these overlapping causes of violence and the things that can protect people and communities, helping us prevent violence in all of its forms.
Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), commonly referred to as domestic violence, is a serious preventable public health problem that affects millions of Americans. The term “intimate partner violence” describes physical violence, sexual violence, stalking, or psychological harm by a current or former partner or spouse. This type of violence can occur among heterosexual or same-sex couples and does not require sexual intimacy. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, about 33.4% of women and 28.4% of men in Louisiana experience intimate partner violence in their lifetime.
Teen dating violence (TDV) is a type of intimate partner violence. It occurs between two people in a close relationship. TDV includes four types of behavior:
1. Physical violence is when a person hurts or tries to hurt a partner by hitting, kicking, or using another type of physical force.
2. Sexual violence is forcing or attempting to force a partner to take part in a sex act, sexual touching, or a non-physical sexual event (e.g., sexting) when the partner does not or cannot consent.
3. Psychological aggression is the use of verbal and non-verbal communication with the intent to harm another person mentally or emotionally and/or exert control over another person.
4. Stalking is a pattern of repeated, unwanted attention and contact by a partner that causes fear or concern for one’s own safety or the safety of someone close to the victim.
For more information on Teen Dating Violence in Louisiana, see our Teen Dating Violence page here.
As domestic violence service providers, implementing prevention strategies can greatly reduce the rate of intimate partner violence and teen dating violence in our communities, helping us to achieve our goal of keeping all Louisiana families safe at home.
Trainings Available:
Using Shared Risk and Protective Factors to Develop Prevention Strategies Webinar
Training Length: 1 hour
Ideal for: Domestic violence service providers, advocates, and allies interested in violence prevention.
Training Objectives:
The Public Health Approach to Violence Prevention – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Connecting the Dots: An Overview of the Links Among Multiple Forms of Violence – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Intimate Partner Violence: Prevention Strategies – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Choosing and Adapting Community Interventions – Community Tool Box
