OTTAWA, OH – Crime Victim Services today welcomed October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM). DVAM was first declared in 1989. Since then, October has been a time to acknowledge domestic violence survivors and be a voice for its victims.
Domestic violence is prevalent in every community, and affects all people regardless of age, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, gender, race, religion, or nationality, but it can be prevented. It requires the collective voice and power of individuals, families, institutions, and systems – each whose “one thing” adds a valuable and powerful component to transforming our communities.
That is why this October, during Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM), Crime Victim Services is asking “What is the one thing (#1Thing) you can do to end domestic violence?”
“Many people care and understand that domestic violence is a serious public health problem. They want to do something but believe their actions can’t make a difference,” said advocate Anne Rockwell. “It feels overwhelming. But you must start somewhere” and that change can start with only #1Thing.” Imagine if all 34,441 individuals in the Putnam County community each commit to doing just #1Thing to stop domestic violence. We would see some serious social transformation.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control, 1 in 5 women and 1 in 7 men reported having experienced severe physical violence from an intimate partner in their lifetime.1
“Right here in Putnam County, Crime Victim Services has provided services to 171 survivors of domestic violence in 2021 alone”, added Rockwell. “That is why we need everyone - advocates, medical professionals, educators, survivors, researchers, policy makers, law enforcement officers, business owners, students, and more, to do #1Thing to stop domestic violence here in our community”.
#1Thing you could do to help address domestic violence:
• Talk to loved ones about violence and oppression
• Create a culture of consent in your home
• Listen to and validate a survivor of trauma
• Ask about anti-violence policies and programs at local schools
• Write to legislators and/or newspaper
In conjunction with DVAM, Crime Victim Services is pleased to announce that now survivors can reach us by text on our hotline at 877-867-7273 or on our website at crimevictimservices.org/chat. These text/chat services are available Monday – Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, while you are also still able to call our hotline 24/7. As always, are services are free and confidential and available to all victims of crime in our community.
Crime Victim Services will also continue to honor survivors, uplift voices, and spread awareness through a social media campaign that will take place throughout the month of October. To find out more about DVAM and stay up to date on new information please visit our website and Facebook page at: www.crimevictimservices.org and “Crime Victim Services” on Facebook and Instagram.
This October join Crime Victim Services as we mourn for those whose lives were taken by domestic violence, celebrate the tremendous progress victim advocates have made over the years, and connect with one another with a true sense of unity to end domestic violence.
#1Thing unites our individual voices while highlighting the power of our collective action.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, November 2). Fast facts: Preventing intimate partner violence |violence prevention|injury Center|CDC. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/intimatepartnerviolence/fastfact.html