MEDIA CONTACT: Brian Scios [email protected] 212-­‐330-­‐8016 x361 The Question Not Asked During NFL Owners’ Meeting: How Many Players Grew Up Living With Domestic Violence? Brian F. Martin, Author of INVINCIBLE, shares the impact of domestic violence in childhood and how the NFL can combat the issue. NEW YORK (October 9, 2014) — With domestic violence being a major focus at the National Football League (NFL) owners’ meeting on October 8, Brian F. Martin – founder of CDV-­‐Children of Domestic Violence and author of INVINCIBLE shared his perspective on the issue and what the league can do moving forward in a recent interview with Marlo Thomas on Mondays with Marlo. “The single best predictor of whether someone will be in a domestically violent relationship as an adult is whether or not they grew up living with it as a child. More than 50% of children who currently live in violent homes are raised by parents who grew up with domestic violence as well. Therefore, the NFL must start at the root of this issue, by asking its players, “Did you grow up living with domestic violence?” When asked in his interview on Mondays with Marlo about the recent video of Ray Rice – the running back for the Baltimore Ravens – assaulting his then-­‐fiancée (now wife) in an elevator in March 2014, Martin says it begs the question of whether or not either Ray or Janay Rice, or both, grew up living with domestic violence. Rice is currently serving an indefinite suspension by the NFL for third-­‐degree aggravated assault. “The video was shocking because we don’t normally see acts of domestic violence, since it occurs in the home,” said Martin. “I was grateful their daughter didn’t see it.” If a person grows up living with domestic violence, they experience Childhood Domestic Violence or CDV. Childhood Domestic Violence is defined as violence between parents or violence towards a parent, perhaps from a stepparent or a significant other. The violence can be physical or non-­‐physical, or both, and the impact is the same. Growing up living with domestic violence negatively impacts a developing brain and the formation of the cognitive belief system. Those who grow up in these homes learn a series of negative beliefs – LIES – about themselves that often carry over into adulthood. And then, they often act as such. As they grow up, they are 6 times more likely to commit suicide, 50 times more likely to abuse drugs or alcohol and 74 times more likely to commit a violent crime. There are currently 10+ million children in the U.S. alone who are growing up in homes where domestic violence is present and 40 million adult Americans experienced domestic violence growing up in their childhood homes. “The NFL isn’t addressing a root problem,” said Martin. “Whether it’s collegiate or whether it’s professional, the sports industry spends a lot of money making sure that its athletes are in their best physical shape. The League also needs to address where the players are psychologically, especially with respect to domestic violence. How are they not asking these young men who come in if they grew up living with domestic violence? Because growing up in one of these homes deeply impacts a life.” UNICEF calls growing up in a home with domestic violence “one of the most pervasive human rights issues of our time,” yet fewer than 10% of people are aware of its impact. Martin, who grew up living with domestic violence himself, founded CDV-­‐Children of Domestic Violence in 2007 to raise universal awareness of this epidemic and develop truly scalable resources available with few barriers of access to all those who are in need. CDV is the first non-­‐profit organization solely focused on helping those impacted overcome the negative effects and reach their full potential. To watch Brian Martin’s full interview with Marlo Thomas on Mondays with Marlo, visit http://huff.to/1EvPSDr. ABOUT CHILDREN OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE (CDV): CDV-­‐Children of Domestic Violence was founded in 2007 by Brian F. Martin and is the first non-­‐profit dedicated to helping those who grew up living with domestic violence reach their full potential. For more information about CDV, visit www.cdv.org or follow the foundation on Twitter at @CDVorg. ABOUT BRIAN F. MARTIN: Brian F. Martin is an entrepreneur, Founder of the non-­‐profit CDV-­‐Children of Domestic Violence and author of INVINCIBLE: The 10 Lies You Learn Growing Up With Domestic Violence and the Truths to Set You Free. ###