Klobuchar backs push to train beauty professionals about domestic violence
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U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and a bipartisan group of senators re-introduced legislation this week to incentivize domestic violence awareness training for cosmetologists and beauty professionals.
Why it matters: Domestic violence is a deadly problem in the United States.
- Cosmetologists' close relationships with their clients position them to recognize cases of domestic violence and lead victims to help.
Stunning stat: Three women are killed by intimate partners each day in the U.S.
How it works: The legislation provides federal grants to states that offer domestic violence awareness and training to cosmetologists.
- It's modeled on a Tennessee program that offered training to over 50,000 beauty professionals to recognize signs of abuse, how to respond and what resources are available to help victims.
Zoom in: In a statement, Klobuchar noted that the training could also help curb human trafficking.
- "We must do everything we can to prevent human trafficking," she said. "That includes thinking outside the box so we can reach the people who need help the most."
What we're hearing: Maximizing community-based "on-ramps" to safety is crucial given that it often takes survivors several attempts to leave an abusive situation, Violence Free Minnesota policy program manager Jess Palyan told Axios.
- Leaning on beauty professionals, including barbers, is a "good instinct" because they work in spaces where men or women often gather without their partners and talk freely, he said.
Plus: The close physical proximity of the services can allow these professionals to notice bruises, cuts or other signs of abuse.
Friction point: Many programs for survivors in Minnesota already have trouble keeping up with referrals due in part to years of steep federal funding cuts.
- "One of the things that has to go with this is making sure that we can scale up the level of services," Palyan said.
Zoom out: Some nonprofits that support survivors are expressing concerns that their work could be further compromised by the Trump administration's efforts to cut federal spending.
- Last week, the U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women removed information on current funding opportunities from its website.
What we're watching: Palyan, who called the uncertainty around federal funding "extremely concerning," said advocates in Minnesota will ask the state to help fill the gap with commitments that go beyond the infusion of one-time funding state groups got in the last budget.
- "We want to make sure our folks can plan for the long term and don't have to come back every year and ask for a little bit more to hang on for one more year," he said.
Go deeper: Sen. Blackburn revives plan to train beauty professionals about domestic violence
If you or someone you know may be struggling with domestic violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.