Posted by Elizabeth Schön Vainer
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Watch our video created by JF&CS Journey to Safety and learn why domestic abuse is such a serious issue. Help us reach our goal of having 10,000 views. Just learning about domestic abuse may save someone's life.
When I speak to people impacted by domestic violence, I hear three messages:
"Love should be safe."
"It's important to believe people who tell you they are being hurt by their husband, wife, boyfriend, or girlfriend."
"Help is available."
Some abuse survivors have shared stories of family and friends who responded to their requests for help with comments such as, "All marriages have bumpy times" or "What did you do to make him so angry?" They remembered with devastating clarity how alone they felt when they reached out for help and were met with suspicion, blame, or indifference from people they trusted and loved.
We hope you will share this video with friends and family. When you do, you make a statement that:
- Love Should be Safe
- You care enough to share this message
The video asks, among other questions, "If I told you that one in four US women is a victim of domestic abuse, would you believe it?" and "If I told you that 15.5 million US children live in violent and abusive homes, would you believe it?" It's time that we, as a community, face the facts, believe them, and reach out to survivors in our midst.
Help is available.
Love should be safe - and when it's not, it is up to each of us to respond with compassion, understanding, patience, and support.
Please watch and share this video and visit our website for information that could save someone's life.
Elizabeth Schön Vainer is the program director of Journey to Safety, the JF&CS response to domestic abuse. Elizabeth is pleased to bring her many years of experience collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to investigate child and domestic abuse to Journey to Safety and JF&CS. She believes that only through collaborative efforts can we truly serve our clients. Elizabeth has a BSW from the University of Tel Aviv and a MS in Organization and Management from Antioch University.
Watch our video to learn why domestic abuse is a serious issue.
Read more from our Domestic Violence Awareness Month blog series.
