OCTOBER is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month |
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October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a time for individuals and communities to acknowledge domestic violence survivors and serve as a voice for victims. Project EVERS wants to recognize the thousands of Kansans (among millions of Americans) who live in daily, silent fear within their own homes. Every year millions of children are exposed to domestic violence, which affects every person within a home, whether through direct abuse or neglect or the witnessing violence directed at another. Domestic violence has a long-lasting effect on children's emotional well-being, and social and academic functioning.
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Domestic violence is prevalent in every community, and affects people regardless of age, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, gender, race, religion, or nationality. Physical violence is often accompanied by emotionally abusive and controlling behavior as part of a much larger, systematic pattern of power, dominance, and control. Domestic violence can result in physical injury, psychological trauma, and even death. The devastating consequences of domestic violence can cross generations and last a lifetime.
Although there has been substantial progress in available resources for domestic violence, statistics show there is still an average of 20 people who are physically abused by intimate partners every minute. This equates to more than 10 million abuse victims annually. One-third of women and 1/4 of men have been physically abused by an intimate partner, and 1/5 of women and 1/7 of men have been severely physically abused by an intimate partner.
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On September 12, 2019, each of Kansas’ 22 identified domestic violence programs participated in a national census of domestic violence services conducted by the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV). The following figures represent the information shared by these 22 participating programs regarding the services provided during DV Counts Day, the 24-hour survey period.
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891 victims were served in one day throughout Kansas:
· 413 adult and child victims of domestic violence found refuge in emergency shelters, transitional housing, or other housing provided by local domestic violence programs.
· 478 adult and child victims received non-residential assistance and services, including counseling, legal advocacy, children’s support groups, and more.
· Type of service provided on DV Counts Day:
o Emergency Shelter 82%
o Children’s Support or Advocacy 73%
o Court Accompaniment/Legal Advocacy 68%
o Rural Outreach 59%
o Bilingual Advocacy 50%
o 187 Hotline Calls were answered. Domestic violence hotlines are a lifeline for victims in danger by providing support, information, safety planning, and resources.
During the 24-hour survey period, local and state hotline staff in Kansas answered 187 calls, on average eight (8) calls per hour.
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Community education is essential to raising awareness about domestic violence and the resources that are available to victims, while promoting prevention strategies. On DV Counts Day, local domestic violence programs educated 300 individuals in communities across Kansas. Advocates provided 17 trainings that addressed domestic violence prevention, early intervention, and more.
Victims made 51 requests for services—including emergency shelter, housing, transportation, childcare, legal representation, and more—that could not be provided because programs lacked the resources to meet victims’ needs. Increased funding will enable domestic violence programs to provide comprehensive services to all survivors seeking help and to prevent violence in their communities.
And the Pandemic has not helped…
The forced cohabitation of many families around the world has shown signs of a real ‘emergency in an emergency’. Still within the midst of the pandemic with different variations of state- or self-imposed isolation, we do not yet know the full impact of domestic violence on victims, children, or communities. Anecdotal data from worldwide reports indicates that toward the end of the initial stay-at-home orders, there was a marked increase in reports of domestic abuse, especially of women who were forced to live for months within an abusive relationship. Daily fear of abuse caused great stress and psychological harm prompting increased calls. Currently, in many areas of the U.S. there has been a dramatic drop in calls made to anti-violence hotlines. It is clear that the decrease in reports does not reflect a reduction in violent incidents but, on the contrary, the risk during the pandemic is that the victim remains trapped inside the home with the abuser, with no escape route or opportunity to contact outside help. The same applies to children who are the victims of violence and where isolation has prevented them going to school or other activities and abuse being reported by teachers or friends.
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To learn more about domestic violence and where to get help, the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) has compiled a list of helpful resources for parents and caregivers, children and teens, mental health providers, child welfare workers, law enforcement professionals, educators and school staff, and policy makers.
Specific Topics include:
Remember: If you, or someone you love, has been a victim of domestic violence, text HOPE to 847411 or call 800-794-4624. Options Domestic and Sexual Violence Services is there to help.
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Questions or ideas?
Read more in the latest Project EVERS
newsletter found on our website here.
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