Domestic Violence Prevention Vs. Intervention

The distinction between domestic violence intervention and prevention is often left vague and unclear. Both are crucial to ensuring protective communities, but there is a distinction. In this analogy, we equate intervention to CPR, and prevention to swimming lessons.

Intervention is like CPR. It is a necessary, life-saving, time-sensitive action performed when someone is in immediate danger.

Intervention services include domestic violence shelters, safety planning, organizations that provide legal assistance to victims of DV, DV hotlines, Restraining and Protection From Stalking Orders, programs that assist victims in finding housing, work, and stability after leaving an abusive relationship.

Prevention education is like swimming lessons. It teaches the necessary skills to swim safely long before one is at risk of drowning.

Preventative measures include sessions on healthy relationships in schools, teaching and discussing consent in age-appropriate ways throughout the lifespan, educating yourself on how to speak to a friend who is in an unhealthy relationship, learning red and green flags of unhealthy/healthy relationships, community or workplace sessions on relationship violence and prevention, showing up and being there for the young people in your life (being an "askable adult"), any action that makes the community at large more safe, protective, and compassionate.