2018-DVAM

Spotlight on Domestic Violence Awareness, Education, and Prevention

Each year, more women are touched by domestic violence than breast cancer, ovarian cancer and lung cancer combined.  October welcomes National Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM), a time when Fayette Cares shines a light on programs for awareness, education, and prevention.

Domestic violence touches every aspect of a community.  It fills emergency rooms and morgues.  It keeps employees from work.  It makes children fearful and interferes with their learning.  It contributes to crime on our streets.  It destroys homes and families.

In October and throughout the year Fayette Cares can help individuals, churches, schools, and businesses, learn how to break the cycle of domestic violence.  The agency is launching three transformative programs to help end domestic violence.

“After a terrible tragedy we often think, ‘If we could only predict the future we could save lives,’” says Fayette Cares Executive Director Alexandra Porto, “that’s exactly Fayette Cares is working to do.” Using an innovative approach to intimate partner homicide prevention, Fayette Cares will be working with the Somerville Police Department to initiate the first Lethality Assessment Program (LAP) in Fayette County, and one of the few in the Mid-South. Studies show that this program has a 92% accuracy rate of predicting intimate partner homicides, and can save lives.

The agency is also addressing the fact that 99% of all domestic violence situations include financial abuse, making it difficult for victims to escape abusive relationships. To take down this barrier to safety, Fayette Cares will initiate the Purple Purse Financial Empowerment program to raise awareness about the signs of domestic and financial abuse, and how to move towards personal and financial security.

Envisioning a future without violence, the agency will also work with athletic coaches to present the Coaching Boys into Men program, a Centers for Disease Control flagship injury prevention program.  The twelve 15 minute sessions delivered by a respected, committed coach can create a team culture (and ultimately a school culture) of respect and equality for women and girls.

At Fayette Cares, victims and survivors find shelter, support and services to escape abuse.  “But to end domestic violence we all need to be part of the solution,” says Porto who encourages everyone in the community to contact Fayette Cares to learn how they can break the cycle and build healthier communities. 

To learn more email Advocate@FayetteCares.org or call (901) 465-3802 x 225. 

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