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Board proclaims Domestic Violence Awareness Month; Family Justice Center highlights high-risk team after six local deaths
Summary
The Board of Supervisors proclaimed Oct. 25, 2025, Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Family Justice Center leaders and partner agencies described a multidisciplinary high-risk team and survivor supports; Executive Director Marsha Lushin said the county has had "6 lives lost in 2025 alone."
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors proclaimed Oct. 25, 2025, as Domestic Violence Awareness Month and heard testimony from the District Attorney's office, YWCA, the Family Justice Center and several survivor-advocates.
Family Justice Center Executive Director Marsha Lushin said the county has experienced "an alarming rise in domestic violence homicides," noting "6 lives lost in 2025 alone," and urged sustained investment in coordinated services and prevention. The Family Justice Center described a newly launched domestic-violence high-risk team that brings together the District Attorney's Office, probation, the sheriff's office, Santa Rosa Police Department, Sonoma County Victim Services and the Victim Empowerment Support Team to identify and intervene in the most dangerous cases using validated risk assessments.
YWCA Chief Executive Madeline Keegan O'Connell thanked supervisors for county financial support of advocacy staffing and shelter operations and noted the YWCA crisis hotline as a key local resource. Several survivors also spoke, thanking county funding and the Family Justice Center partner services for assistance they said helped them and their children.
What the board directed or discussed: Supervisors and commissioners called for transparency, accountability and protection for survivors, including trauma-informed reporting channels and external investigations in domestic violence allegations involving public safety personnel. The Human Rights Commission urged policies to prevent minimizing domestic violence and to protect funding for shelter and legal services.
Next steps: The board adopted the gold resolution and recognized partners and survivors at the public ceremony; supervisors and partner agencies said they would continue coordination, public outreach during Domestic Violence Awareness Month and funding support for advocacy and high-risk case intervention.
