Domestic Violence Awareness Month: hear from one of Rockford's resources and their impact

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WREX)— October marks Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a time for the community to engage in meaningful conversations about supporting survivors and preventing domestic violence. Jennifer Cacciapaglia, Executive Director of the Mayor's Office of Domestic and Community Violence Prevention , emphasized the importance of creating pathways to peace and justice for survivors.

"It's an important time for our entire community to intentionally engage in a broader conversation," Cacciapaglia said. She highlighted that domestic violence is a pervasive issue, accounting for over 50% of the community's violent crime rate. "Domestic violence is everybody's business," she added.

Cacciapaglia stressed the importance of recognizing signs of domestic violence, which often include contr