Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Announcement
Home should be a place of warmth, unconditional love,tranquility, and security, and for most of us, home and family can indeed be counted among our greatest blessings. Tragically, for many Americans, these are blessings that are tarnished by violence and fear.
Every 9 seconds a woman in the United States is assaulted by an intimate partner. According to the American Psychological Association,74% of all murder-suicides involved an intimate partner and, of these, 96% have been women killed by their intimate partners and the presence of a gun in a domestic violence situation increases the risk of homicide by 500.
According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics Crime Data Brief, Intimate Partner Violence, February 2003, women accounted for 85% of the victims of intimate partner violence, men for approximately 15%. Women are not the only targets; men, children, the elderly and family pets are counted among the victims.
A study by Break the Silence, 2006, witnessing violence is the strongest risk factor in transmitting violent behavior from one generation to the next.
According to the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence, approximately 23% of LGBTQ men and 50% of LGBTQ women experience abuse at the hands of their intimate partners.
Domestic Violence costs an estimated $8.3 billion annually in medical care, mental health services, and lost productivity on the job. Women, men and children living with domestic violence suffer higher rates of physical injuries, chronic health problems, depression, PTSD, attempted suicide, substance abuse, behavior problems for children, and homelessness. In an effort to end domestic violence and provide safety to victims, the Bay Area Women=s Center offers free-of-charge services to victims and their families through emergency shelter, a 24 hour crisis-line,counseling, support groups, and advocacy; and
The theme of Domestic Violence Awareness Month 2016 is AShedding a Light on Domestic Violence@Therefore, Be It RESOLVED that the Bay County Board of Commissioners, along with the Bay County Executive, proclaim the month of October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Bay County and urge our citizens to observe this month by becoming aware of the tragedy of domestic violence, supporting those who are working toward its end and participating in community efforts.
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