WHEREAS, there are thousands of (often unreported) incidents of domestic violence and intimate partner violence every day in New York City; and

WHEREAS, with more than 1.1 million students, New York City is the largest K-12 public school system in the United States with many of its students affected by domestic violence and intimate partner violence; and

WHEREAS, domestic violence and intimate partner violence have resulted in countless occurrences of physical, emotional and psychological harm and even death in New York City; and

WHEREAS, 12.1% of high school students in New York State reported having been physically hurt (excluding sexual violence) by a significant other in just the past year and 11.8% reported experience sexual dating violence; and

WHEREAS, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men in the United States have experienced some form of physical violence by a significant other; and

WHEREAS, countless numbers of students and educators fall victim to domestic violence and intimate partner violence; and

WHEREAS, a variety of conditions caused by the ongoing pandemic have resulted in increased rates of domestic violence and intimate partner violence; and

WHEREAS, domestic violence and intimate partner violence have myriad negative effects on individual victims, family units, communities and young people; and

WHEREAS, in October 2021, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul proclaimed October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month and announced an additional $6.5 million in funding that will allow state-licensed service providers to offer survivors of domestic violence and their families with options for assistance and support; and

WHEREAS, Georgia, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia already offer training to educators on domestic violence indicators and interventions, and such training in New York City public schools would ensure that New York City adheres to best educational practices for ending domestic violence and intimate partner violence; therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the UFT will work with the City of New York and local coalition partners to educate young people, UFT members and New Yorkers at large about the dangers of domestic violence and intimate partner violence and to offer resources to combat, prevent and eliminate these violent incidents in the future; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the UFT will disseminate to its members and other educators information and resources to fight and end domestic violence and intimate partner violence; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the UFT will provide members, caregivers, students and others with opportunities designed to help recognize and eradicate domestic violence (including, but not limited to learning warning signs, forms of domestic violence, patterns and interventions to eliminate domestic abuse, teen dating violence and intimate partner violence); and be it further

RESOLVED, that the UFT will work with the DOE to identify and assist students who are victims of domestic violence or live in households where incidents of domestic violence and intimate partner violence occur; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the UFT will continue to work with the UFT Member Assistance Program and other dedicated personnel to offer counseling and other resources to assist victims of domestic violence and intimate partner violence and to work to eradicate domestic violence and intimate partner violence in the future.