FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 25, 2019
OCTOBER: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH
Raising Awareness about the Prevalence of Domestic Violence in our Community
Boise, Idaho – The Women’s and Children’s Alliance (WCA) is pleased to join together with The Ada County Paramedics, Advocates Against Family Violence, the Canyon County Domestic Violence Task Force, Faces of Hope and the Nampa Family Justice Center to welcome elected officials and community leaders from across the valley to officially declare October “Domestic Violence Awareness Month” (DVAM) on Thursday, September 26, 2019. The Ada County Commissioners, mayors and council members from Boise, Caldwell, Eagle, Garden City, Meridian, Nampa, Kuna and Star will join leaders from local domestic violence service providers, first responding agencies and survivors of domestic violence to raise awareness about the pervasiveness of domestic abuse in our community.
The joint press conference and kick-off event will be held at 10 a.m. at the Idaho Peace Officers’ Memorial in front of the Idaho State Police Headquarters at 700 South Stratford Drive, Meridian, Idaho. Domestic Violence service providers will be on site with information and awareness month promotional materials for community members. Elected officials and community leaders from Ada and Canyon will be in attendance.
WCA Executive Director, Bea Black, said that by coming together as a community, raising awareness, and educating our friends, neighbors, and co-workers, we can make our community a better and safer place to live and raise our families.
“We are so grateful to have the support of our elected officials and public agencies as we work together to raise awareness of the prevalence of domestic violence in the Treasure Valley. Being able to present this joint proclamation at this week’s press conference also allows us to highlight the resources available for those who have been affected by domestic violence – that can help impact and potentially save lives,” said Black.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), one-in-four women and one-in-seven men in the US have been severely physically assaulted by an intimate partner. And while we live in a beautiful family-friendly valley with strong community support, domestic abuse is an insidious issue across the Treasure Valley.
In 2018, according to the Ada County Sheriff’s Department there were 5,284 calls for service related to domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse made to local law enforcement agencies in one year. And statewide, in 2017 the Idaho State Police reported 5,774 incidents of violence between spouses, ex-spouses, and those in dating relationships (Idaho Coalition Fact Sheet, 2018).
About The WCA
The Women’s & Children’s Alliance provides safety, healing and freedom from domestic abuse and sexual assault.
The WCA operates secure shelters and provides professional counseling, legal advocacy, crisis services and case management to survivors of domestic and sexual abuse. For more information, visit www.wcaboise.org.
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Contact:
Women’s & Children’s Alliance
Chris Davis, Communications Manager
cdavis@wcaboise.org
