October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) – which provides an opportunity to educate and engage our community and help people learn more about domestic abuse and how as individuals and as a community we can work to break the cycle of abuse.
According to
the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men in the US have been severely physically assaulted by an intimate partner. And while we live in a beautiful family-friendly town with strong community support, domestic abuse is an insidious issue in Ada County. In 2019, according to the Ada County Sheriff’s Department there were 5,289 calls for service related to domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse made to local law enforcement agencies.
Domestic abuse is a pattern of controlling behaviors intended to frighten, intimidate, manipulate, hurt, humiliate, blame, injure or wound an intimate partner. Contrary to popular perceptions, domestic abuse is not solely physical. Emotional, verbal, sexual, and economic abuse are just as harmful and include isolation, sexual assault, intimidation, humiliation, and withholding financial support or information.
Here a few things you can do!
NoMore is a national campaign that aims to raise public awareness of and start conversations about domestic abuse and sexual assault. Tell us why you say “No More” to domestic abuse and sexual assault. Print out a custom NO MORE poster and write it down. Take a photo and share it on social media or email to us directly! Find examples of posters from past years here.
Educate yourself! Knowing the facts about domestic abuse is the first step toward preventing it. Check out the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence for tons of great information and resources. If you have young people in your life, check out LoveIsRespect.org for awesome youth-focused materials. Find tips for how to help and support a victim of domestic abuse and sexual assault here.
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