October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a time dedicated to remembering victims whose lives ended too soon as the result of domestic violence, offering safety and support for those currently in abusive relationships and celebrating survivors who are now free from their abusers. 

*  According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, over 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men in the United States have experienced some form of physical violence by an intimate partner. https://ncadv.org/STATISTICS 

* Children are negatively impacted by witnessing abuse in the home.  Children may become abusers themselves or fall into DV/IPV relationships because it has been normalized for them.

* Victims stay with their abusers for many reasons – such as fear that the abuser will hurt or kill them, will hurt or kill the children, will hurt or kill pets, or will take the children away from them.  Other reasons they stay include finances, religious beliefs, and low self-esteem due to the abuse.

* Abuse of a partner is NOT normal and is not OK.  No one has the right to hit, choke, push, kick, slap, or spit on anyone.

If you are experiencing violence in your intimate relationship, or you know someone who is, please reach out to the Fluvanna Victim/Witness Assistance Program (434)591-1985, or the Shelter for Help in Emergency (SHE) (434)-293-8509.