SALT LAKE CITY — Intermountain Healthcare will donate $540,000 in a partnership with the Utah Domestic Violence Coalition. The donation will be used to assist those who are recovering from the impacts of domestic violence.

Intermountain Healthcare partnership

Intermountain Healthcare will donate the money to the Utah Domestic Violence Coalition, referred to as UDVC. The coalition is a non-profit organization comprised of members across the state. Members include nonprofit domestic violence shelters and a sexual assault advocacy organization, according to Intermountain. 

Members will use the donation to cover the cost of “their effort to support and stabilize community organizations.”

Intermountain said those community organizations provide resources to victims to help them heal from trauma.

“Access to resources is an essential part of the healing process,” shared Mikelle Moore, senior vice president and chief community health officer at Intermountain Healthcare. “The members of the UDVC work together to support domestic violence survivors in a way that makes access easier and the use of funds more efficient. Intermountain is proud to support their efforts ensuring services are available where and when survivors need it.”

UDVC will receive the donation from Intermountain in two $270,000 annual payments. The first payment will be this year. From there the coalition will distribute it equally to 18 local organizations. Each organization will receive $15,000.

“The Utah Domestic Violence Coalition and our member programs are so grateful for the financial support from Intermountain Healthcare in meeting the increased need for services for survivors,” said Jennifer Campbell, executive director of UDVC. “Having operational funding will help our programs continue to provide their life-saving services and ensure that when someone is in need, they can find help.”

Domestic violence statistics

Intermountain highlighted the rise of domestic violence over the COVID-19 pandemic. It noted that cases rose by 8.1% in Utah since the beginning of the pandemic in early 2020. 

One in six women and one in 25 men will experience rape or attempted rape in their lifetime, according to UDVC’s website.

The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence reported that an average of “nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States.”

Related: Parents resource page launched by DCFS, Utah 211

Follow @samanthagherr