Spotlight on Policy

DOJ, United Way Partner to Assist Children Exposed to Violence

On September 28, 2012, in Cleveland, OH, Attorney General Eric Holder announced that the Department of Justice and key stakeholders will partner with the United Way's 2-1-1-call-for-service line to identify and assist children in the Cleveland area exposed to violence. Read more »

New California Law Expands Requirements for Mandatory Reporting

New mandated reporting and child abuse laws have just been signed into law in San Diego. These are some of the latest examples of how States and communities are responding to the aftermath of the Penn State sexual abuse scandal. Read the article »

Teenage Victims of Intimate Partner Violence To Get Protection in the U.K

The official definition of domestic violence in the U.K. is to be changed to ensure that thousands of teenage victims who are abused while in a relationship get the help and support they need. This is in response to a recent survey showing that 12.7 per cent of women and 6.2 per cent of men aged 16-19 experienced some kind of domestic abuse in the last year. View the article »

Teachers Required to Provide Instruction About Teen Suicide

In 2010, Kentucky passed legislation mandating the dissemination of suicide information to middle and high school students. Teachers are required to do at least two hours of self-taught study before discussing the topic with their students. Read more »

Fact Sheet: Preventing and Responding to Violence Against Women and Girls Globally

Aug. 10, President Obama issued an Executive Order on Preventing and Responding to Violence Against Women and Girls Globally to further enhance the Administration's efforts to advance the rights and status of women and girls. Read more about this fact sheet »

Defending Childhood Taskforce Briefing

The Defending Childhood Taskforce on Children's Exposure to Violence met July 24-25 in Washington, D.C. Over the past several months, the task force met with practitioners, researchers, advocates and survivors in hearings across the country as they work to shape policy recommendations on how to reduce the impact and prevalence of childhood exposure to violence. July 25 they discussed their experiences and the impending report. Read more about the Defending Childhood Taskforce Brieving »

Attorney General Eric Holder Convenes Meeting on Children's Exposure to Violence

Attorney General Eric Holder launched the Defending Childhood Initiative in September 2010 to prevent, address, reduce, and more fully understand childhood exposure to violence. On May 15-17, 2012, representatives from the eight Defending Childhood demonstration sites gathered in Washington, DC for a series of presentations, peer-to-peer exchanges and dialog with Justice Department leadership. Read more about the Defending Childhood Meeting »

GAO: Legal Protections for Vulnerable Youth need to Be More Fully Assessed

A recent study by the Government Accountability Office found legal protections for vulnerable youth, including those identifying as LGBT, need to be assessed. The final report includes findings and recommendations to DOE, HHS and DOJ to provide more information to those impacted by bullying. Read more about Legal Protections »