Preventing Intimate Partner Violence

For Everyone

Key points

  • Intimate partner violence is common and often starts early (in the teen years).
  • Everyone can promote healthy relationship skills, recognize the warning signs, and support survivors.
  • Training, resources, and treatment are available.
  • If you need help now, call 800-799-SAFE or text START to 88788.
Four people clasping hands

Overview

Intimate partner violence, also called, "domestic violence," is common and can have serious and lasting effects on individuals, families, and communities.

It can start as soon as people begin dating or having intimate relationships, often during the teen years. This is why prevention efforts often focus on the teen years because building healthy relationship skills early can prevent future violence.

Preventing intimate partner violence also means supporting survivors and their children and protecting them from future harm.

Many strategies can help prevent intimate partner violence and reduce its harmful effects. These include helping people build skills for healthy relationships and creating safe, supportive environments among peers, families, schools, and communities. Everyone has a role to play.

Prevention

Parents and caregivers

Setting expectations for healthy relationships and teaching young people the skills to build them are essential to preventing intimate partner violence. Parents and caregivers play an important role in shaping attitudes and behaviors that support healthy relationships.

Parents and caregivers can:

  • Improve your skills for understanding, communicating with, and encouraging teens.
  • Talk with teens about what healthy relationships look like and why violence is never acceptable.
  • Set clear expectations for respectful behavior.
  • Stay involved and aware of teens’ relationships and activities.
  • Know the warning signs of teen dating violence, which can include changes in mood or grades, unexplained bruises, and how to get help.

Help your teen build healthy relationships

Take CDC's HeaRT Parent Training to learn practical ways to communicate with your teen and help them build safe and supportive relationships.

Everyone

No one deserves to experience violence and help is available. Everyone can be aware of the warning signs of intimate partner violence and how to get help or support someone else.

Need help now?

Call 800-799-SAFE or text START to 88788. You can also chat with a live advocate.

Everyone can promote norms that teach people how to safely intervene when they see signs of intimate partner violence. Examples include bystander programs that focus on friends and roommates or larger groups like men on college campuses.

Everyone can promote programs that work with couples to improve relationship skills like communication, conflict management, and emotional regulation skills.A

Schools can implement programs that teach kids about positive communication and conflict management. They can also encourage staff to take the free HeaRT Training, that helps educators learn how to prevent teen dating violence.

Schools, colleges, and universities can create safe, supportive environments that promote healthy relationships, respect boundaries, and make clear that violence is not acceptable.

Businesses and workplaces can implement policies and practices that promote safety and help-seeking behavior. For example, workplaces can train employees to recognize warning signs, make it easier to report concerns, and connect employees with resources. They can also strengthen safety measures (e.g., visitor sign-in policies, securing access points, etc.).

Public health practitioners, partners, and other professionals also play a vital role in preventing intimate partner violence. Learn more about the Public Health Approach to Intimate Partner Violence Prevention.

Treatment

Supporting the emotional, physical, housing, and other needs of survivors and their children can help prevent future intimate partner violence and reduce its harmful effects.

Support and services can help survivors cope with depression, traumatic stress, anxiety, and other effects of intimate partner violence.

Ways to support survivors include connecting them with:

  • Victim-centered services like hotlines, crisis support, counseling, medical care, and legal assistance.
  • Housing programs that help survivors find stable and affordable housing.
  • First-responder and civil legal protections that help provide safety.
  • Trauma-informed therapy provided by licensed mental health providers.

Resources

Visit the resources page for more information about publications, trainings, hotlines, and other organizations focused on preventing intimate partner violence.

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Content Source
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
About this page
Published: May 15, 2024
Updated: September 18, 2026

This page was last updated on this date. Updates may include minor edits, image changes, or other modifications to page content.

Reviewed: September 18, 2026

The information on this page was last reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure accuracy.

  1. Couples-based approaches to intimate partner violence are generally considered unsafe when severe violence and fear are present. For other couples, programs that focus on relationship skills may help reduce the likelihood of future intimate partner violence perpetration.
  • Niolon, P. H., Kearns, M., Dills, J., Rambo, K., Irving, S., Armstead, T., & Gilbert, L. (2017). Intimate Partner Violence Prevention Resource for Action: A Compilation of the Best Available Evidence. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.