Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and First Lady Britainy Beshear marked the start of Domestic Violence Awareness Month on Oct. 1, 2026, recognizing survivors and pointing to state efforts to hold offenders accountable and support families.
"Domestic violence will not be tolerated in Kentucky. Everyone deserves to be safe and feel safe in their day-to-day lives," Gov. Beshear said. "We're going after people who commit these crimes, and we're providing justice and healing for survivors and their families. Together, we're creating a safer Kentucky for all our people."
Mrs. Beshear said domestic violence "is a heinous crime that has no place in our state or our country," adding that the state has taken action by holding offenders accountable and increasing resources for survivors. "If someone close to you is hurting you or threatening you, it is not your fault; you are not alone and there is help available," she said.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 1 in 3 women and more than 1 in 6 men experienced contact sexual violence, physical violence and/or stalking by an intimate partner during their lifetimes.
The 2025 Domestic Violence Data Report shows law enforcement responded to nearly 34,000 domestic violence incidents, 8,301 arrests were made for domestic or dating violence, and Kentucky courts issued more than 20,000 protective orders. More than 14,000 individuals received services from ZeroV, and its regional programs received more than 19,000 hotline calls.
Since taking office, the Governor's administration has awarded $189 million in grant funding to victim service agencies, supporting law enforcement, victim services, courts, shelter housing, mental health counseling and sexual assault examinations.
ZeroV, formerly the Kentucky Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and its coalition provided supportive services to nearly 14,500 survivors in fiscal year 2026, including emergency shelter for more than 1,400 adults and 900 children.
"Navigating a path to safety when you're experiencing abuse is no easy task," ZeroV CEO Tisha Pletcher said. "The advocates in ZeroV's statewide coalition walk alongside survivors every day to support them in choosing the path to safety and healing that is best for them. When survivors are ready, we're here."
The First Lady encouraged Kentuckians to mark their calendars for next year's Shop & Share donation drive on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2027. Since former First Lady Jane Beshear established the event in 2008, it has raised nearly $7 million in monetary and in-kind donations.
The Governor also highlighted the Safe at Home Program, created by Senate Bill 79 in 2023, and more than $172,000 in new federal funding announced in May for the Kentucky State Police's Sexual Assault Kit Initiative, which has received more than $4.8 million since 2021.
Anyone in immediate danger should call 911. Those not in immediate danger can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-SAFE (7233), text START to 88788, or visit thehotline.org.