How to Respond to Disclosures of Domestic Violence

Updated: March 18, 2022

Chances are high that there is someone in your life who has experienced or is experiencing domestic violence.  In Hawai’i, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have experienced sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime (CDC, 2017).

Whether the person experiencing violence is your friend, relative, colleague, classmate, or neighbor, you can make a difference by simply being supportive and nonjudgmental.  Victims and survivors are more likely to first talk to someone they know rather than a professional such as an advocate or law enforcement officer.  This bulletin will help you navigate a conversation and provide trauma-informed care when domestic violence is disclosed.

Click here to download and view this technical assistance bulletin.

Chelsey Stewart (Training & Technical Assistance Specialist)