Knitting Passion

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

This is a bit of a departure from your normally expected postings on this site. But, the issue is important enough - and close enough to my own life - that I feel it is important to post on it here.

I volunteered for our local domestic violence shelter for about 20 years. Then I was hired as the Volunteer Coordinator. I have since taken a different position with the agency and am in my 6th year as a staff member.

There are very devoted people who work in the field - and it is not an easy one in which to work. The work-life of a direct service advocate (one who works closely with the victims) is about 18 months.

The advocate is free to move on with her life . . . take a job in a different field . . . or (as is sadly sometimes the case) completely break down. She becomes another victim of the problem.

But . . . when the advocate moves on and out of the field . . . the victim is left behind. You see, SHE (the victim) is not always able to move on in her own life so easily. It can take a lot longer for her to heal.

Did you know . . .

. . .It takes an average of SEVEN times for a victim to leave her abuser?

. . . An Alaska Native woman may leave her abuser up to 25 times before she can get out of the situation?

. . . Children are the “hidden” victims in abusive homes?

. . . PTSD (post traumatic stress syndrome) is a HUGE medical factor in the healing of a victim of abuse?

. . . October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month - but your local emergency shelter deals with the problem 24×7x365.

. . . Consider them in your 2008 giving plan. If you have time to give, that is even better. Call the local Volunteer Coordinator and ask how you can help. S/he will be DELIGHTED to give you a job.

. . . Consider taking a workshop through your local shelter that will teach you the basics of domestic violence and give you tools to help you or your loved ones out of situations.

. . . Alaska has the highest per capita rate of domestic abuse and sexual assault in the United States. (this is one of the times that we would much rather NOT be known as number 1!)

Some places you can go for more information:

Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault

Alaska Family Violence Prevention Project

National Coalition Against Domestic Violence

The Eva Foundation Help for afterwards.

Several folks in the 451 Press family have been writing about the subject as well. This link goes to an entry with a very profound statement: “Only in our selfish hearts, does the victim take the blame”.

I hope you will reach out to a victim today and just lend your ear if that is all she needs. Thanks, everyone!

domestic violence, domestic violence awareness month, the hidden victim, emergency shelter