Join us on April 14 for the Inaugural Research Symposium, "A World Free From Domestic Violence: Moving the Conversation"

The Sojourner Center Institute will host the inaugural Research Symposium on April 14, 2016 in Phoenix, Arizona, titled “A World Free From Domestic Violence: Moving the Conversation.” The purpose is to expand the domestic violence conversation beyond its usual parameters by convening researchers and experts from across the field to discuss new solutions to end domestic violence. Sojourner Center’s partner, the University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix will be hosting the event on their Biomedical Campus in Downtown Phoenix.

The Issue

Domestic violence is a public health epidemic. Despite the best efforts of many committed activists and policy-makers over the past 40 years, it shows no sign of abating. Domestic violence casts a long shadow, affecting the health and well-being of everyone it touches, costing the American economy more than $37 billion a year. And yet, research shows it is scarcely discussed within families or communities.

Domestic violence is a complex social phenomenon that has not been solved by simple answers or catchy slogans. It is clear that we need an all-encompassing, society-wide campaign to change cultural norms around domestic violence. This is an effort that will require leadership and cooperation across academic disciplines, social service providers, philanthropies, health and mental health providers and government.

 The Goal of the Symposium

To stimulate the cross-disciplinary sharing needed to develop a successful model of domestic violence prevention and response, the Sojourner Center Institute will convene experts who are examining

• Root causes of domestic violence
• Long-term health and mental health effects of domestic violence on women, children and men
• The impact domestic violence has on the whole family, including women, men, children and pets
• The cultural context, including the impact on marginalized populations
• The effectiveness of existing and new intervention models
• The family court system and how it can better serve children and protective parents
• Long-term solutions to prevent domestic violence

We aim to move the conversation about domestic violence to one of a public health epidemic and explore actionable, evidence-based practices for populations affected by domestic violence. On behalf of Sojourner Center and the thousands of individuals we serve, we invite you to attend the Research Symposium and join us in finding solutions for a world free from domestic violence. Registration and more details can be found at https://www.sojournercenter.org/get-involved/inaugural-research-symposium/