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Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA), with sponsorship by Supervisor Ferrero and Supervisor Laine, recommending the Board adopt and authorize the Chair to sign a Proclamation recognizing October 2026 as “Domestic Violence Awareness Month” in the County of El Dorado.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
Domestic violence impacts individuals in every community, regardless of age, socio-economic status, religion, race, sexual orientation, or nationality. It is often characterized by a pattern of power and control between intimate relationships where one partner uses abusive behavior against another. In addition to physical violence, domestic violence frequently includes emotional abuse and controlling behaviors that can cause lasting harm.
The California Department of Justice reports statewide domestic violence-related calls to law enforcement decreased from 163,024 in 2024 to 157,416 in 2025, with approximately 60% of calls involving a weapon in both years. In El Dorado County, domestic violence-related calls to law enforcement remained essentially unchanged from 2024 to 2025, 634 and 633 respectively, with nearly all reported calls to El Dorado County law enforcement in 2025 involving a weapon, a substantially higher proportion than reported statewide. Separately, local domestic violence shelters report 279 calls and 1,871 intervention encounters in 2025, compared with 503 calls and 1,423 intervention encounters in 2024.
Long-term societal effects of domestic violence and abuse include increased medical costs, lost productivity or difficulty maintaining employment, and reduced economic opportunities. The economic cost to government has been estimated at $73.7 billion annually (Tulane University, 2024).
To raise awareness of this nationwide public health issue, show support for the two domestic violence shelters in the County, and voice support for County residents impacted by domestic violence, HHSA recommends the Board adopt and authorize the Chair to sign a proclamation recognizing October 2026 as “Domestic Violence Awareness Month.”
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could decline to adopt the Proclamation recognizing October as “Domestic Violence Awareness Month.”
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
1) 10/13/2020 Legistar file 20-1267, HHSA - Domestic Violence Awareness Month Proclamation
2) 10/12/2021 Legistar file 21-1456, HHSA - Domestic Violence Awareness Month Proclamation
3) 10/18/2022 Legistar file 22-1716, HHSA 2022 Domestic Violence Awareness Month
4) 10/21/2025 Legistar file 25-1646, HHSA Domestic Violence Awareness Month Proclamation
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
N/A
CAO RECOMMENDATION
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no financial impact associated with this agenda item.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
N/A
CONTACT
Olivia Byron-Cooper, MPH, Director, Health and Human Services Agency