PRESS RELEASE
December 4, 2007

SAN DIEGO – Supervisor Pam Slater-Price and District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis launched a program Dec. 3 that mobilizes salon professionals in the fight against domestic violence called CUT IT OUT.

The national program, which originated in Alabama in 2003, trains salon professionals to recognize warning signs of domestic abuse. They learn how to discreetly and safely refer clients to a national hotline through literature paid for by nonprofit Salons Against Domestic Abuse. The program then links victims with local resources, such as the San Diego County Domestic Violence Hotline (1-888-DVLINKS).

Elected officials, domestic abuse experts and a stylist announced the program at Dearinger Hair Salon in downtown San Diego, where members of the media viewed the CUT IT OUT training video.

“Domestic abuse victims want to tell their secret, but they’re afraid,” Slater-Price said. “A trained and trusted stylist could connect an abuse victim with the resources to end the silence and stop the violence.”

Dumanis said in the past 10 years, there have been more than 150 domestic-violence related deaths in the county. Last year, the District Attorney’s office filed almost 3,000 domestic violence cases.

“Salon professionals are in the unique position to recognize warning signs of domestic abuse,” Dumanis said. “They can be the bridge between victims and those of us in law enforcement.”

Dearinger Hair Salon agreed to be the principal salon partner with the county to implement the CUT IT OUT program locally. The award-winning salons in San Diego and La Jolla see 20,000 clients a year.

“We are honored and excited to work with the County of San Diego to launch the CUT IT OUT program,” said owner Mark Dearinger. “With all our clients, we know we will help make a difference in the fight against domestic violence.”

Linda Wong Kerberg, assistant deputy director for the county’s Office of Violence Prevention, and Keely Linton, program coordinator for the North County Family Violence Prevention Center, said they would be partnering to train salons for the program, which they expect will bolster referrals to their various domestic violence programs. Salons wishing to participate in the CUT IT OUT program can visit www.cutitout.org or call the Office of Violence Prevention at (858) 581-5800.