CENTRAL INDIANA BUSINESS

Indianapolis nonprofit Domestic Violence Prevention Network highlights abuse awareness on WISH‑TV

WISH‑TV’s Community Link segment on Oct. 11, 2026, featured Sarah Ferguson and Jala Powell of the Domestic Violence Prevention Network discussing domestic and teen dating violence, the network’s advocacy, education and collaboration work, and available community trainings and resources.

BUSINESSINDY BRIEFBy BusinessIndy Editorial StaffCommentsPublished October 11, 2026 at 10:03 AM EDT

AI-generated illustration of the topic: Indianapolis nonprofit Domestic Violence Prevention Network highlights abuse awareness on WISH‑TV — AI illustration · Not a photograph of the reported event.

This brief summarizes a WISH‑TV (Indianapolis) Community Link segment aired Oct. 11, 2026, in which host Carolene Mays highlighted the Domestic Violence Prevention Network (DVPN). Guests Sarah Ferguson and Jala Powell described DVPN’s focus on advocacy, education and collaboration and said the group hosts community events and training sessions; WISH‑TV notes more information is available online.

Ferguson told the segment that domestic violence extends beyond physical abuse to include financial, emotional and psychological abuse and said, as she characterized it, one in four U.S. women will experience physical violence in their relationships. Powell said dating violence also affects teens, stating one in three teens will experience dating violence and that less than 10% of teens who experience dating violence will tell anybody, typically a friend rather than a trusted adult. Powell said DVPN offers educational programs for teens about resources and how to respond if a friend discloses abuse.

WHY IT MATTERS

This report signals that a local nonprofit is actively promoting awareness and training about domestic and teen dating violence in Indianapolis. “Domestic violence” here includes physical harm and nonphysical tactics—financial control, emotional and psychological abuse, and manipulation—so recognizing it can require different responses than treating only visible injuries. DVPN’s three-part approach—advocacy (speaking up for survivors and services), education (teaching people what abuse looks like and where to get help) and collaboration (working with other organizations)—is intended to make information and support easier to find in the community.

For example: imagine a high‑school student is worried a friend is being controlled financially or isolated socially. Educational programs that teach students what to look for and how to safely tell a trusted adult could help that friend get support sooner. The segment also flagged low reporting by teens: Powell said fewer than 10% tell anyone, and when they do it’s often a peer rather than an adult.

Next step: WISH‑TV’s segment says more information is available on the Domestic Violence Prevention Network’s website and that DVPN runs community events and trainings; watch for posted dates and registration details from DVPN for those programs.

Report a correction · Editorial standards · Our source directory

BusinessIndy examines this development and its implications for Indiana businesses and communities using the linked sources.

Related coverage

Reader discussion

Join the discussion. Every comment is checked before publication. Community rules and appeals