October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, but domestic
violence is something we all should be aware of every day. For so long,
domestic violence was considered to be nobody’s business because it usually
happened in the privacy of the home. We
realize now that domestic violence IS our business; indeed it is everyone’s
business. The costs to our economy are
staggering. The pain the abuse causes
the victims and their families is sometimes unbearable. Bullying and other forms of violence can
result from exposure to domestic violence as well.
Domestic violence is
a pattern of behavior designed to keep the victim of abuse under the power and
control of the abuser. This occurs in a
family, intimate partner, dating or caretaking situation. Domestic violence has no boundaries; it
happens in all income brackets and at all levels of education to people of all
races, religions or sexual orientation.
More than one in three women and more than one in four men report abusive
incidents or stalking from an intimate partner in their lifetime. 1.3 million women report being assaulted
every year; 85% of victims are women.
The economic costs are staggering; domestic violence costs our national
economy $5.8 billion dollars annually. DV victims lose 8 million days of paid
work each year, equivalent to 32,000 fulltime jobs. Each year, 5.6 million days of household
productivity are lost.
The Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence recently
released the results of their annual survey of domestic violence homicides in
Illinois. From July 1, 2016 to June 31,
2017, 44 domestic violence incidents resulted in 61 deaths; 47 were homicides
and 14 were suicides. All of the
suicides followed a homicidal death; none were stand-alone incidents. When you read these facts and examine the
statistics, it is obvious that domestic violence is something we need to be
aware of every day, not just in the month of October.
What can each of us do to help stop domestic violence and to
offer support to victims? If you suspect
domestic violence is happening to a friend, neighbor or loved one, reach out to
them to offer support and encouragement.
Just knowing that someone cares can sometimes be a first step to a
victim seeking help. Refer them to your
local domestic violence program and let them know there is help available. If you hear……or think you hear…….domestic
violence happening, call your local authorities. It is better to call and be wrong, than not
to call and be sorry if something terrible happens. Educate yourself on domestic violence to know
the signs. All of our Dove programs
offer community education and are thrilled to present it when we are asked to
do so. Dove also offers volunteer
training a couple of times each year to educate people who have a desire to
help. Our rural programs are generally
staffed with just one person, so we would welcome all the help we can get. Even though our Decatur program is now at
full staff, volunteers are the lifeblood of our programs. We never have too many trained, caring
individuals to help with our mission.
Consider donating to your local programs financially as well, or talking
with your church leaders about joining the Dove family of congregations to
support our programs. Finally, prayer
for the victims and their families, for the abusers and for our programs is
always welcome. Together, hopefully we
can stop………..or slow down…….this horrific abusive pattern.
Decatur office 217-428-6616 Crisis Line 217-423-2238
Clinton office 217-935-6619 Crisis Line 217-935-6072
Shelbyville office 217-774-3121 Crisis Line 217-774-4888
Sullivan office 217-728-9303 Crisis Line 217-728-9334
Susie Kensil
Shelby County Domestic Violence Coordinator
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