BATTLE MOUNTAIN - Lander County commissioners named October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month for the county at their Oct. 11 meeting. October is already named as national Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
The proclamation naming October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month states whereas, the problems of domestic violence are not confined to any group or groups of people but across all economic, racial, affectional preferences and social barriers and whereas, in our quest to impose sanctions on those who break the law by perpetrating violence, we must also meet the needs of battered women and men and their children who often suffer grave financial, physical and psychological losses.
The proclamation also states that whereas, the crime of domestic violence violates an individual's privacy, dignity and security, often leaving an imprint of fear and hostility and whereas, the impact of domestic violence is wide ranging, affecting society as a whole.
It finishes with therefore be it resolved that we in Lander County are committed to restoring our first civil right - the right to freedom from fear in our own homes.
It continues with be it further resolved that in recognition of the important work done by domestic violence programs, we the Board of Lander County Commissioners, do herby proclaim the month of October 2012 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month and do urge all citizens to actively participate in the scheduled activities and programs sponsored by the Lander County Committee Against Domestic Violence to work toward the elimination of personal and institutional violence against women and men.
The committee has sought October to be named countywide as Domestic Violence Awareness Month since the committee's inception in 1986, said Michele Scovil, the group's corresponding secretary.
The Violence Policy Center released a study on Sept. 19 ranking Nevada as number one in domestic violence-related homicides for men killing women.
"Awareness it an important step in the right direction for prevention," said Sarah Edgar, committee board chair. "(The proclamation) is an indicator that the county leaders and community have buy-in for awareness and the prevention of domestic violence."
According to Sue Meuschke, executive director for the Nevada Network Against Domestic Violence, spreading awareness of domestic violence is essential.
"Awareness of the impact of domestic violence on our communities is critical if we ever hope to fully address the issue," Meuschke said.
According to Scovil, signs of domestic violence are coercion, threats, intimidation, emotional abuse, isolation, economic abuse, using children, male privilege - master of the castle, and minimizing, denying and blaming.
According to the Domestic Violence Awareness Project, at dvam.vawnet.org, domestic violence is best understood as a pattern of abusive behaviors - including physical, sexual and psychological attacks as well as economic coercion - used by one intimate partner against another - adult or adolescent - to gain, maintain or regain power and control in the relationship.
Batterers use of a range of tactics to frighten, terrorize, manipulate, hurt, humiliate, blame, often injure and sometimes kill a current or former intimate partner.
How does someone know if he or she is a victim? The Power and Control Wheel, which can be accessed through the Domestic Violence Awareness Project website, developed by the Domestic Abuse Intervention Project, is a helpful tool in illustrating the overall pattern of abusive and violent behaviors that can be used by someone to establish and maintain control over their partner.
According to the website www.thehotline.org, signs of abuse are one person embarrassing the other person with put-downs, looking or acting in ways that are frightening, a partner trying to control what the other person does, who the other person sees or talks to or where the other person goes and the partner trying to stop the other person from seeing friends or family members.
Other signs are one person trying to take the other person's money, making the other person ask for money or refusing to give the other person money that is supposed to be shared, one person making all of the decisions, threatening to take away or hurt the children, preventing the other person from working or attending school, acting like the abuse is no big deal, denying doing it or blaming something or someone else, even the person being abused, and destroying the other person's property or threatening to kill pets.
Other signs to watch for are if a person intimidates the other person with guns, knives or other weapons, shoves, slaps, chokes or hits the other person, forces the other person to try and drop charges, threatens to commit suicide or threatens to kill the other person.
According to www.loveisnotabuse.com, 10 signs family and friends can watch for are someone apologizing and/or making excuses for his/her partner's behavior; the person losing interest in activities that he/she used to enjoy; if the person stops seeing friends and family members and becomes more and more isolated; the person casually mentioning the partner's violent behavior, but laughing it off as a joke; and often has unexplained injuries or the explanations often don't make sense.
According to the website for the Kansas Coalition for Sexual and Domestic Violence, www.helpchangekansas.com, signs of abuse include various injuries attributed to a fall or accident; clothing that doesn't match the season - long sleeves in the summer; wearing heavy make-up or accessories that seem unusual; references to his/her partner's bad moods or temper; breaking appointments at the last minute or simply not showing up; being late or absent from work or quitting his/her job unexpectedly; speaking of a partner as if he or she is significantly more important than he/she is.
Anyone who suspects he or she maybe be in an abusive relationship, the signs to look for are: public criticism or belittling jokes; a partner being overly jealous, attentive or demanding; someone trying to control a person's every move or making the person account for his/her time; accusing the person of having an affair; threatening suicide or murder - or attempting it; abusing the children emotionally, physically or sexually; and isolation - keeping the person away from his/her friends and family.
The Lander County Committee Against Domestic Violence is run by a 10-member board. It is an all-volunteer non-profit organization that seeks to raise awareness of domestic violence and prevent it. There are a total of 18 people involved in the organization, said Scovil.
The organization is funded through a grant from the Marriage License Fund through the Division of Child and Family Services out of Carson City. It is also funded through Newmont's Legacy Fund and by donations from local residents and businesses. Wells Fargo is also a major donor, said Scovil. It also receives a small amount of funding from the Victims of Crime Act.
In addition to raising awareness, the committee also helps victims of domestic violence by providing emergency shelter, advocacy, food, clothing, counseling and some utility bill payments. The committee has a hotline number for victims to call and it is manned 24 hours a day. The phone number is (775) 635-2500.
Since 1986, the committee has helped more than 736 clients, said Scovil. The committee is always looking for new volunteers. Those who would like to join can call Scovil for an application at (775) 635-5745 or e-mail her at mscovil@bmnv.com.
The Lander County Committee Against Domestic Violence's Seventh Annual Fun Run/Walk was held Oct. 20 in recognition of October being Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
In addition to the Fun Run/Walk, the committee spreads awareness by having information booths at various events throughout the year.
In addition to the Lander County hotline, to seek help, there is the National Domestic Violence Hotline (800) 799-SAFE (7233) or TTY (800) 787-3224. Help is available to callers 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Hotline advocates are available for victims and anyone calling on their behalf to provide crisis intervention, safety planning, information and referrals to agencies in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Assistance is available in English and Spanish with access to more than 170 languages through interpreter services.
There is also the National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline, www.loveisrespect.org, (866) 331-9474, or TTY (866) 331-8453, which provides help and resources, including confidential online support, for teens who are concerned about what is going on in their relationship.
Other resources provided by the Nevada Network Against Domestic Violence are http://www.nnedv.org/getinvolved/dvam.html, http://www.nrcdv.org/dvam and http://www.futureswithoutviolence.org/content/action_center/detail/754.
[[In-content Ad]]
