Health Cares About Domestic Violence Day

Health Cares About Domestic Violence Day is an annual, nationally recognized day that takes place on the second Wednesday of October.

Sponsored by FUTURES, HCADV Day raises awareness that domestic violence is a healthcare issue, and promotes partnerships between healthcare and domestic violence programs to support survivor health and work together to prevent domestic violence.

SAVE THE DATE FOR 2025 HCADV

Join us on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, 11am PST for a webinar to learn strategies for integrating IPV support into emergency planning, building partnerships, and accessing key resources.

As natural disasters grow more frequent, health centers and domestic violence programs must be ready to respond to the increased risks of intimate partner violence and trafficking.

Hear from local and state partnerships as they discuss their strategies and lessons learned that you can apply during Domestic Violence Awareness Month and beyond.

Register for the webinar HERE.

For more information on meeting the unique health needs of survivors during emergencies and disasters, visit these resource:

• Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence and Human Trafficking: Health Center Preparedness Before, During, and After Emergencies – Health Partners on IPV + Exploitation
• Health Center Emergency Preparedness for Survivors of IPV + Exploitation: Multidisciplinary Collaborations to Address Legal Needs – Health Partners on IPV + Exploitation
• Enhancing Emergency Preparedness in Health Centers for Addressing IPV, HT, and Exploitation – Health Partners on IPV + Exploitation
• “Emergency Preparedness Checklist: Supporting Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), Human Trafficking (HT), and Exploitation (E)
• Preparing To Support Survivors Of Intimate Partner Violence And Their Children During Public Health Emergencies: Lessons Learned from Covid-19 Pandemic

Activities You Can Organize

• Share these videos created with IPV survivors with guidance for healthcare clinicians on how to better support patients/caregivers to disclose and receive support around IPV.
• Introduce the subject of domestic violence by sending an e-mail to colleagues about the day.
• Post information on your company, community or school’s website about the day.
• Collaborate with a local domestic violence agency to hold a community awareness forum or DV101 training at the health center. Find your state & U.S territory DV coalitions here and your local health center here.
• Organize a resource table and distribute facts sheets, patient educational materials, and a local resource list with phone numbers of local shelters, hotlines and community resources.
• Organize a training session or webinar for health care staff on our universal education approach (CUES) at ipvhealth.org.
• Invite an advocate or survivor to speak at a brown bag lunch. Download the NRCDV’s From the Front of the Room: A Survivor’s Guide to Public Speaking.
• Engage your staff, community and local DV agencies in a conversation about screening for IPV in healthcare settings using social media with the hashtags #HCADV, #DVAM and others! View sample social media posts below.
• Hang posters and place safety cards in waiting areas and patient rooms to give patients the message that support is available. Check out our store to order safety cards and posters.