Wear purple, because October is National Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Month. SAVE (Safe Alternatives to Violent Environments) jump-started its domestic violence awareness campaign on September 28th by hosting the 10th Annual Breakfast Eye Opener at the Newark/Fremont Hilton. SAVE staff members are also busy with outreach efforts, including school visits, community appearances and group presentations, including SAVE’s next free Open Doors event that will take place on October 25, 2012 (see below for more information).
With all the different causes and awareness campaigns that exist, you may be experiencing a bit of “burn out” – wondering why it’s important to pause and consider what domestic violence is all about and why you should care. Truth is, the reasons are startling and supported by sobering statistics: 1 in 4 women will be a domestic violence victim in her lifetime. For men, the rate is 1 in 7. Even if you are not at risk for being abused, this next number will help you understand why domestic violence should demand our attention: three in four people know someone who has been abused.
Domestic violence knows no boundaries. It affects people of all ages, ethnicities, income and education levels, geographic location and sexual orientation. Domestic violence takes many forms; a victim may experience one or several abuse types -- physical, emotional, psychological, financial, sexual, spiritual, and verbal. Tactics used to intimidate and threaten a partner may include reporting the victim to immigration, “outing” their sexual orientation or stalking. Domestic violence has a tremendously damaging impact on the health and welfare of individuals and families, community safety, work productivity, and crime rates. The impact on children is particularly alarming; those who grow up witnessing domestic violence are at greatly increased risk of becoming adult batterers or victims.
Although domestic violence is not nearly as hidden and stigmatized as it once was, and despite increasing awareness, SAVE’s services are in demand because domestic violence still exists in our neighborhoods, on our streets and in our homes. When victims are in crisis, SAVE is here, providing caring support and critical resources such our 24-hour hotline, emergency shelter, individual and group counseling, restraining order clinics, court advocacy and much more.
Do you want to learn more about domestic violence, SAVE’s community work, and how you can help make a difference in the lives of others? Then please join SAVE at our next free community education and outreach event, Open Doors, on Thursday, October 25, 2012. At Open Doors you will meet SAVE staff, learn about SAVE services, hear a client share her story and meet other SAVE supporters. Lunch is included and there will be time for a Q&A session.
For more information or to reserve your space, call Tina at (510) 574-2266 or email donations@save-dv.org. You may also register for this free event by visiting: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/3602488139#
In other SAVE News:
Nearly 300 guests attended SAVE's 10th Annual Breakfast Eye Opener on September 28th! Donations thus far total over $78,000 to date -- funds that will support SAVE’s prevention, intervention and support services. SAVE thanks its guests, supporters, sponsors, volunteers and staff for making our Breakfast a success! Together, we are making a difference.
For information regarding SAVE (Safe Alternatives to Violent Environments), please visit www.save-dv.org, or call SAVE’s Community Office at (510) 574-2250. If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call SAVE’s 24-hour hotline at (510) 794-6055 or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at (800) 799-SAFE (7233).
Statistics source: http://www.dvrc-or.org/domestic/violence/resources/C61/
