Issue Statement

SOCW 6361: Social Policy: Analysis and Advocacy

Assignment Prompt

Issue Statement: Create a 1-paragraph issue statement that hooks your audience and
concisely communicates the imperative to address your selected social problem.
Include the following:
 In 1 paragraph, define your social problem and the population it impacts.

 In 1–2 paragraphs, explain your critical reasons for why the public and decision
makers, as well as social workers, need to advocate for change.

 In 1–2 paragraphs, describe what happens in communities if your goal to

alleviate the problem is realized.

Sample Issue Statement: The Social Problem—Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (n.d.) reported intimate partner
violence (IPV), formerly called domestic violence, as a national social problem in the
United States. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s
Health (2018) defined domestic violence or IPV as the following:

It includes physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, as well as sexual

coercion and stalking by a current or former intimate partner. An intimate
partner is a person with whom you have or had a close personal or sexual
relationship. Intimate partner violence affects millions of women each year
in the United States. (para. 1)
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (n.d.), in the United States
an average of 20 people a day were physically abused by their partners. This equates
to one in four women and one in ten men who experience IPV. The Virginia Department
of Health (n.d.) stated that “over one-third of homicides occurring in Virginia are related
to domestic violence” (para 2). In addition, the National Coalition Against Domestic
Violence (n.d.) reports “31.3% of Virginia women and 22.1% of Virginia men experience
intimate partner physical violence, intimate partner rape and/or intimate partner stalking
in their lifetimes” (para. 2). Based on the statistics reported, IPV is a social problem in
the United States and Virginia.

The Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (VAWA) was the first federal legislation to
address domestic and sexual violence against women in the United States (National
Network to End Domestic Violence, n.d.). VAWA provides VAWA programs—including
funding for organizations that shelter women, men, and children who have experienced
the violence and funding for organizations that provide services and interventions for
mental health, sexual assault victims, and other supports—that were to be administered
by the U.S. Department of Justice and HHS and to improve the collection of data about
domestic violence (National Network to End Domestic Violence, n.d., para. 1). On
March 8, 2021, Representatives Sheila Jackson Less (D-TX-18), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-
1), and Jerrold Nadler (NY-10) introduced the Violence Against Women Act
Reauthorization Act of 2021 into the House of Representatives (Congress.gov, n.d.). On
March 18, 2021, the United States Senate received the Authorization Act
(Congress.gov, n.d.). The National Network to End Domestic Violence wrote a letter to
the representatives that supported their actions on the Reauthorization Act of 2021
(2021). It is critical that social workers encourage senators to vote yes to the
Reauthorization Act of 2021 and continue efforts to end IPV. Passing this legislation will
provide funding and enhanced law enforcement and court action to end IPV. The
reduction of IPV will ensure that families, children, and households experience safety
and less emotional, physical, and environmental trauma. This can also positively and
indirectly impact the community—for example, it can reduce issues of capacity and
resources in hospital settings, prisons, and child welfare systems.
 References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Preventing intimate partner

violence.

https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/intimatepartnerviolence/fastfact.html

Congress.gov. (n.d.). All Actions H.R.1620 — 117th Congress (2021-2022).

https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/1620/all-

actions?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22senate+bill+violence+against+wom

en+reauthorization+Act+of+2019%22%5D%7D&r=1&overview=closed&s=1#tabs

National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. (n.d.). Domestic violence in Virginia.

https://assets.speakcdn.com/assets/2497/virginia_2019.pdf

National Network to End Domestic Violence. (n.d.). Policy center: Violence Against

Women Act. https://nnedv.org/content/violence-against-women-act/

National Network to End Domestic Violence. (2021, March 8). Letter to Representatives.

https://nnedv.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/NNEDV-Letter-in-Support-of-

VAWA-2021-3.9.21.pdf

Office on Women’s Health. (2018). Domestic or intimate partner violence. U.S.

Department of Health and Human Services.

https://www.womenshealth.gov/relationships-and-safety/domestic-

violence#references

Virginia Department of Health. (n.d.). Family and intimate partner homicide surveillance.

https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/medical-examiner/fatality-review-surveillance-

programs-reports/family-and-intimate-partner-homicide-

surveillance/#:~:text=Over%20one%2Dthird%20of%20homicides,are%20victims
 %20of%20domestic%20violence.&text=Over%20half%20of%20FIP%20homicide

s,homicides%20occurred%20within%20a%20residence

Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance. (n.d.). Policy plan and position

statements: Action Alliance’s Public Policy Strategic Priorities: 2017-2023.

https://vsdvalliance.org/advancing-policy/policy-plan-and-position-statements/