According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 12 million men and women across the United States are victimized by domestic violence each year. Florida's numbers are no less shocking; approximately 2.5 million women are subjected to abuse by an intimate partner annually.

In many domestic violence situations, the abused person feels trapped, with no way out. Some even think they deserve to be treated that way. In an effort to help these men and women, a former Bollywood star founded a nonprofit -- No More Tears -- five years ago to offer these people the resources they need to find safety and start over.

The CDC has joined in the effort as well. Studies to determine the number of people hurt by domestic violence both nationwide and in individual states began this year. A health communication specialist with the agency said reporting the numbers will help states better understand how widespread the problem is and hopefully help them find ways to combat it.

No More Tears is one program that helps battered individuals leave their abusers and create their own lives. The nonprofit provides abused individuals -- many of them immigrant women -- find housing, jobs and access to medical professionals, including dentists, psychologist and physicians who have offered reduced rates or free services.

The Bollywood actress added, however, that the goal is to help make these people confident and independent. She says they must take initiative and work for their own stability. If someone goes back to their abuser, doesn't attend school or doesn't look for a job, their case will be dropped.

Hopefully this program and others like it across the state will continue to get the resources and funding necessary to help Florida residents who have fallen victim to an intimate partner.

Source: Sun Sentinel, "Nonprofit agency looks to help as domestic violence continues," Christiana Lilly, Jan. 3, 2012