During a recent government meeting, officials highlighted significant advancements in addressing domestic violence in the Phoenix area, coinciding with October's recognition as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The meeting featured remarks from the chair of the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) Regional Domestic Violence Council, who emphasized the council's 25-year history and its ongoing efforts to combat domestic violence.

The council, established in 1999, was one of the first coordinated bodies in the nation aimed at tackling domestic violence. It was formed in response to the tragic death of Laura Munoz, a victim of domestic violence who was killed by her husband when she sought shelter for her children. This tragedy galvanized community leaders, including former council member Peggy Bilstein, to take action.

Over the years, the council has made substantial progress, moving away from a fragmented response system. Key accomplishments include the development of a training curriculum for crisis response teams in 2004, the creation of a misdemeanor domestic violence protocol model in 2011, and a recent initiative in 2023 that produced a webinar on dating violence prevention.

The council's efforts have been supported by various stakeholders, including the Human Services department, which has led initiatives like Paint Phoenix Purple to raise awareness and reduce stigma surrounding domestic violence. Despite the progress made, officials acknowledged that much work remains to be done to further support victims and enhance community responses to domestic violence.