Philadelphia Prioritizes Fight Against Domestic Violence

Philadelphia police get nearly 300 calls a day related to domestic violence. In a year, that is a 100,000 calls.

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By Julia Terruso

Philadelphia police get nearly 300 calls a day related to domestic violence. In a year, that is a 100,000 calls.

Mayor Kenney on Tuesday announced the creation of a new City Hall position -- domestic violence strategies director -- to reduce those calls.

Azucena Ugarte will depart her post as director of education and training at the nonprofit, Women Against Abuse to take on the new role starting October 17th. The $75,000-a-year position will be part of the Department of Human Services.

"When a person is being taken advantage of, it's just something we have to stop," Kenney said. "It's not just a police problem it's a neighborhood problem...We have a responsibility not to look the other way."

Ugarte, 44, will work across multiple departments that deal directly with Philadelphia residents to better equip them to recognize and refer potential cases of domestic violence. Ugarte said Tuesday she wants to be a bridge between outside non-profit groups already providing mental health and other support services and the city.

"I think the first thing is to map out what the agencies are already doing, what efforts they are already making, try to identify the gaps and identify best practices that can be sustainable," she said.

"There are not enough resources. We want to get the city to a point in which if someone receives any services from a city agency the city agency is ready to screen for intimate partner violence or domestic violence, to intervene appropriately."

Women Against Abuse serves 15,000 people each year, through shelters and a legal center.

But last year, the Philadelphia Domestic Violence hotline had to turn away more than 14,000 requests for safe shelter due to a lack of capacity.

"For too long domestic violence has been marginalized and though we have great champions the lack of any city infrastructure or authority has left this public health epidemic largely unchecked," said Jeannine L. Lisitski, executive director of Women Against Violence. "Today that changes."

(c)2016 The Philadelphia Inquirer

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Caroline Cournoyer is GOVERNING's senior web editor.
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