October is Domestic Viole nce Awareness Month and, locally, Help Now of Osceola County will hold events through the month to educate and raise awareness about the issue while continuing to provide essential services to survivors of domestic violence.
The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence first observed domestic Violence Awareness Month in October 1981 as a national Day of Unity.
Here’s a list of some awareness events taking place locally in October:
Local proclamations — the School District of Osceola County (Oct. 5), Osceola County Government (Oct. 13) and the cities of St. Cloud (Oct. 14) and Kissimmee (Oct. 19) will offer proclamations bringing awareness to Domestic Violence Awareness Month at their meetings.
Working With Latina Women Exposed To Domestic Violence, Oct. 13, 12-12:30 p.m. (virtual) — a seminar hosted by advocate Carmen Otero en Espanol for increasing awareness and best practices while working with Latino populations exposed to Domestic Violence, and to understand and be more “Culturally Sensitive ”when working with Latino women and families who have been affected. Email carmeno@ helpnowshelter.org to register.
Batterer’s Accountability Lunch & Learn, Oct. 20, 12-12:30 p.m. (virtual) — Participants will learn a traumainformed approach to assist child welfare professionals to hold batterers accountable in cases involving intimate partner violence. The presentation will provide strategies on how to align with survivors of domestic abuse and how to reduce revictimization in the child welfare process. Email janellew@helpnowshelter. org to register.
Parents for Prevention, Oct. 20, 6-7 p.m. (virtual) — Presented by Christina Montalvo, Prevention Specialist. Tips and resources for parents on how to help prevent teen dating violence, how to show support and encouragement, and how to acknowledge red flags and tactics of DV. Email christinam@helpnowshelter. org to register.
Domestic Violence Awareness Day, Oct. 21 — Wear purple as a conversation starter and share why ending domestic violence is important to you. Use the hashtag #PurpleThursday in social media.
Domestic Violence Awareness Project, Oct. 21 (Details TBA) — event honoring Nicole Montalvo, the St. Cloud mother who was the victim of domestic violence in October 2019.
Domestic violence can happen to anyone in any community, regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, race or socioeconomic status. Since last year, the COVID-19 pandemic and the accompanying lockdowns, social distancing, and other mitigation measures have only exacerbated domestic violence. Historically, domestic violence has increased during pandemics and economic crises, both of which we are experiencing right now, and this time is no different. Worldwide, incidences of domestic violence are increasing while the usual escapes for survivors – shelters, police restraining orders, friends and family, and others may not be accessible now. So it is more important than ever to raise awareness about domestic violence and know the warning signs of abuse.
According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, “Domestic violence is the willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault, and/or other abusive behavior as part of a systematic pattern of power and control perpetrated by one intimate partner against another. It includes physical violence, sexual violence, threats, economic, and emotional/ psychological abuse. The frequency and severity of domestic violence varies dramatically.”
It affects those in the direct line of the relationship, and it affects children as well — as many as 15.5 million children and teens are affected by abuse each year, and many instances go unreported. That can create a cycle of abuse when those children become adults, making teaching how to escape and break patterns and rise above those toxic situations critical.
