October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

In the United States, did you know?

• 30 women will be assaulted by an intimate partner while you read this article.  This is more than the number of women hurt by car accidents, rapes, and muggings combined.
• 3 women will be murdered by an intimate partner today.
• 1 in 5 teenage girls has been threatened or hurt by a boyfriend. 
• 10 million children witness domestic violence each year. 

Domestic violence can happen to anyone, including:

• Men
• Professionals
• Police/military
• People of all ages, income levels, and racial or ethnic groups
• Abuse can be:
• Emotional
• Verbal
• Psychological
• Sexual
• Financial
• Physical

Abusers prevent victims from leaving by using:

• Isolation
• Threats
• Force
• Fear
• Control

YOU CAN HELP!

If you know someone who is being abused:

• Listen without judging – abuse is the abuser’s fault, not the victim’s.
• Offer resources and allow them to make their own choices when they are ready

Clackamas Women’s Services 24 Hour Crisis Line: (888) 654-2288

Clackamas Legal Advocates: (503) 655-8600

If you are a parent, educate your children so they learn not to abuse and not to accept abuse. Call Clackamas Women’s Services for information on Youth Education Prevention. If you can, donate money, household items, or clothing; also, spend time volunteering with local shelters or service providers.

References:
http://www.childhelp.org/blog/entry/economic-impact-of-domestic-violence/
http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/ipvbook-a.pdf
http://domesticviolencestatistics.org/domestic-violence-statistics/

Additional Resources:
A Safe Place Family Justice Center for Clackamas County
http://www.clackamas.us/asafeplace/
Connect to local shelter, counseling, assistance with restraining orders, and other resources.

Clackamas Women’s Services
http://www.cwsor.org
Located within A Safe Place, CWS runs the Clackamas County crisis line and shelter, provides counseling, advocacy and other services.

Clackamas County District Attorney’s Office
http://www.clackamas.us/da/
Advocates are available 24/7 to answer questions about restraining orders and other services; assistance with stalking, family abuse and elder/disabled abuse protective orders and crime victims’ compensation.

Los Ninos Cuentan
http://losninoscuentan.org
Local nonprofit that provides assistance to Latina survivors of domestic violence.

Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office Domestic Violence Enhanced Response Team (DVERT)
http://www.clackamas.us/sheriff/dvert.html
Information and follow-up on investigations of domestic violence, help with getting a restraining order, safety planning, and domestic violence training for police and other agencies.

Oregon Child Abuse Reporting Information
http://www.oregon.gov/dhs/children/pages/abuse/cps/cw_branches.aspx
Phone numbers listed by county for anyone needing to report abuse of a child.

The Verbal Abuse website by Patricia Evans
http://www.verbalabuse.com
Ms. Evans has written several highly recommended books on verbal and emotional abuse.

National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV)
http://www.ncadv.org
Information, statistics, lists of shelters and providers, and many resource links.

Men Ending Verbal Abuse and Control
http://mevac.proboards.com
Resource for men wanting anonymous support to stop verbally abusive or controlling behaviors.