Breaking the cycle
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, a woman is battered every 15 seconds. More alarmingly, Louisiana is ranked fourth in the nation for female homicides related to domestic abuse. As Gov. Bobby Jindal declared October to be Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Louisiana, many domestic violence programs around the state have been working to bring attention to this universal issue.
The Providence House, in partnership with the Shreveport-Bossier Junior League, is sponsoring the project “Done in a Day,” in which volunteers target every available public restroom to place a Domestic Violence Hotline decal on every mirror. The decals will provide a number to call if you or someone you know is in danger. In addition, other services offered include help with temporary restraining orders, 24/7 crisis calls, safety planning, general information and Safe House information.
Tracey Locke, director of development at Providence House, said this is a major project for an important cause in the community, and the hope is to reach as many women as possible.
Domestic violence awareness events have been held all month long through Providence House, bringing attention to the real stories of the women and families they help on a daily basis. Dedicated to breaking the cycle of homelessness, Providence House reports a signi cant amount of homeless women say domestic violence was their immediate cause of homelessness. The Providence House Safe House Domestic Violence Program provides their participants with safe shelter, as well as skills to improve their quality of life. The program also offers a crisis hotline, safety planning, protective orders and legal advocacy, referrals to other help in the community, counseling and support groups, classes for job skills, life skills and more. The services are to help those coping with or escaping violent relationships, provided at no cost and always with con dentiality.
The Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence reports that domestic violence-related homicides had a 16 percent increase from 2010 to 2011, and the numbers could be worse than they appear.
According to a press release, Beth Meeks, executive director of LCADV, said a number of factors could contribute to the increase of cases, but the lack of resources and the closing of many shelter programs make it dif cult for other victims to seek services. LCADV and the Louisiana Foundation Against Sexual Assault will play host to the 10th annual Conference on Sexual Assault and Family Violence on Dec. 11-13 in Baton Rouge. The three-day event will include workshops, exhibits and seminars to train professionals in working with victims of abuse and those who work to bring the abusers to justice.
In 2010, the National Network to End Domestic Violence conducted a one-day census of domestic violence services around the country. All 20 LCADV programs participated in the 24-hour period and found 1,117 victims were served, 546 DV victims found refuge in shelters or housing provided by local programs, 571 adults and children received non-residential assistance and services, 377 hotline calls were answered, and there were 60 unmet requests for services. The programs were unable to meet those requests as 50 percent reported not having enough funding, and 30 percent reported. The LCADV estimates their member programs serve more than 20,000 women and children in Louisiana each year.
As statistics show, domestic violence affects everyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or socioeconomic status. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Institute of Justice reports one in four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime. Furthermore, the World Health Organization released a study this year reporting 35 percent of women around the world have been raped or physically abused. WHO also reported that of those women who have been abused, the likelihood of long-standing mental and physical health problems is signi cantly increased.
An echo heard throughout all domestic violence programs is the importance for people in the community to speak up and take a stand against the violence. According to Safe Horizon, an organization against domestic violence and an advocate for victims’ rights, most domestic violence incidents are never reported – making awareness to this situation a crucial aspect in ending the cycle. For more information on resources in the community, ways to get involved and upcoming events, visit the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence website at www.lcadv.org, or go to Providence House website at www. theprovidencehouse.com.
– Katie Ho
