Last Updated: 2 July 1996
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE
TDD for the Hearing Impaired: 1-800-787-3224
For Immediate Release: For More Information, Contact:
July 8, 1996 Gail Phillips/Public Relations
Director
(512) 453-8117
(Austin, Texas) The need for a toll-free 24-hour national crisis intervention, information and referral hotline for victims of domestic violence was proven with the release today of the First Quarterly Report of the National Domestic Violence Hotline (NDVH), a project of the Texas Council on Family Violence.
From its opening on February 21, 1996 through May 31, 1996, NDVH Advocates answered 24, 170 calls for help from residents of the 50 states, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands. An analysis of first quarter activity reveals that 89% of calls placed to the Hotline's toll-free numbers 1(800(799-SAFE or 1(800(787-3224 (TDD) -- were made by women. Men placed 11% of all calls. Additionally, 64% of the callers identified themselves as victims of domestic violence; 19% family and friends of victims; 3% batterers; and, the remaining 14% made up of professional service providers and members of the press and public.
"The response has been overwhelming," said Ellen Rubenstein Fisher, NDVH Director, adding "We are gratified to know that, in many instances, battered women are reaching out and receiving help for the first time."
As evidenced by the contents of the First Quarterly Report, the National Domestic Violence Hotline will, in addition to providing crisis intervention, information and referrals, play an important role in assisting local and state domestic violence programs in determining the accessibility and usefulness of their services through periodic feedback.
"Even at this early stage," Fisher explained, "we understand that the data being collected and analyzed will teach us a lot about our nations strengths and weaknesses insofar as help for women, their children and others living in violent relationships."
The National Domestic Violence Hotline plays an important role in linking individuals and services by way of a nationwide database developed and maintained at its offices located in Austin, Texas. The system stores up-to-date information on domestic violence and other emergency shelters, legal advocacy and assistance programs, and social service programs, thereby directly contributing to positive working relationships among local, state, national and federal service providers. The NDVH is committed to meeting the needs of diverse communities through bilingual Advocates, technology for the Deaf, access to translators in 139 languages and availability of published materials in a wide variety of formats and languages. The NDVH may be accessed by individuals residing in the 50 states, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE FACT SHEET
1st Quarterly Report 02/21/96 - 05/31/96
CALLS ANSWERED 24,170
AVERAGE CALL LENGTH 6 minutes 37 seconds
AVERAGE TIME ON HOLD BEFORE CALL ANSWERED 1 minute 6 seconds
AVERAGE NUMBER OF CALLS PER DAY 239
HIGHEST NUMBER OF CALLS IN ONE DAY 2,049
(May 1, 1996)
PEAK CALL TIME 4:00 - 5:00 pm CST
| CALLER TYPE | PERCENTAGE |
| Victim | 64% |
| Family/Friend | 19% |
| Batterer | 3% |
| Advocate/Professional/Agency/Service Provider | 6% |
| General Public | 4% |
| Other | 1% |
| Angry/Prank/Hang-Up/Wrong Number | <1% |
| Media | <1% |
| Student | <1% |
| Elected Officials | <1% |
| Hospital | <1% |
| Police | <1% |
| Teacher | <1% |
| GENDER OF CALLERS | PERCENTAGE |
| Female | 89% |
| Male | 11% |
| HEARD OF HOTLINE | PERCENTAGE |
| Media - Television | 82% |
| Word of Mouth | 4% |
| Media - Newspaper | 3% |
| Service Provider | 3% |
| Other | 2% |
| Agency | 2% |
| Previous Call | <1% |
| Media - Radio | <1% |
| Directory Assistance | <1% |
| Media - Other | <1% |
| Neighbor | <1% |
| Phone Book | <1% |
| Promotional Material | <1% |
NEARLY 10% OF THE CALLERS WERE SPANISH-SPEAKING
18% OF THE CALLERS STATED CHILDREN WERE INVOLVED
MOST FREQUENT STATES CALLED FROM
California
Texas
New York
Florida
Ohio
MOST FREQUENT STATES CALLER REFERRED TO
California
Texas
New York
Illinois
Pennsylvania
BUSIEST AREA CODES
718 Queens/Brooklyn, NY
408 San Jose, California
713 Houston, TX
619 San Diego, CA
201 Newark/Hackensack/Morriston, NJ
508 New Bedford/Plymouth/Worchester, MA
310 Los Angeles, CA
312 Chicago, IL
* Victim calls up from first month's average of 40%
CALLS BY CALLER STATE
February 21, 1996 - May 31, 1996
***NOTE: Difference in total number of calls (24,170 / 14,333) due to not all***
***calls being recorded in computer database. Many calls have been recorded***
***on paper and are being loaded into the database as time allows.***
National Domestic Violence Hotline