October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Many community agencies are devoting resources and energy to educating the public and professionals about the impact of batterer's behavior on families and communities. The following is a listing produced by the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence (www.ctcadv.org) of events sponsored by the coalition and its members.
Some of the highlights of these events are:
10/3 11am-2pm "Walk in our footsteps" A domestic violence awareness event focusing on children's issues Location: Bushnell Park, Hartford. Contact Person Wendy Mota, 860-282-7899
10/8 9:30-12:00 A press conference and public forum to increase staffing at domestic violence shelters to 24 hours/7 days a week Location: Legislative Office Building RM2C Hartford Contact Person: Linda Blozie 860-282-7899
10/16 6:30 pm Candlelight Vigil St. John’s Church Waterbury, CT Sponsored by Safe Haven
Waterbury, CT Contact: Diana Boylan (203) 575-0388
10/16 8:30-2:00 "When Family Violence Comes to Work" Featured Guest: Patricia Evans,best selling author of "The Verbally Abusive Relationship" ($75 includes breakfast and lunch) Location: Scinto Towers Auditorium, Shelton Contact Person: Susan DeLeon 203-736-2601
10/16 & 10/17 9:30-12:30 National Expert on the Law Enforcement Response to Domestic Violence Lt. Mark Wynn Norwalk Community College Atrium (10/16): UConn Stamford Campus General Auditorium (10/17) Contact Person: Dale Flaste (203) 965-0049 ext.102
In addition to these events there will be vigils and other events across the state for the entire month. So check what is happening in your area, and plan to attend a local event, share information with others about local events
Warning Signs for Domestic Violence
* Emotional and Economic Attacks
Verbal Attacks Emotional Abuse Disrespect Minimizing
Breaking Promises Abusing Trust Pressure Tactics
Abusing Authority Economic Control Isolation
Harassment Self-Destructive Behavior
* Acts of Violence
Intimidation Destruction Threats Sexual Violence
Physical Violence Weapons
Dating Abuse/Violence
What's Dating Abuse?
Dating abuse is a pattern of violent behavior-physical, emotional, or sexual-by one partner in a dating relationship toward the other partner.
Dating abuse may be:
Physical, Pinching, shoving, slapping, grabbing, etc.
Intimidation (blocking doors, throwing objects), Use of weapons
Sexual, Unwanted touching, Forced sexual activities, Pressure to have sex, Threats to find someone who will do what he or she wants sexually
Emotional/verbal, Put-downs, insults, and rumors, Threats , Possessiveness , Overdependency, Huge mood swings,
Humiliation, Accusations, Withdrawal of attention, Isolation from friends or activities
Statistics:
About one in 11 teens reports being a victim of physical dating abuse each year.
About one in four teens reports verbal, physical, emotional or sexual abuse each year.
About one in five teens reports being a victim of emotional abuse.
About one in five high school girls has been physically or sexually abused by a dating partner.
The overall occurrence of dating violence is higher among black (13.9%) than Hispanic (9.3%) or white (7.0%) students.
About 72% of students in 8th and 9th grade report "dating".
By the time they are in high school, 54% of students report dating violence among their peers.8
1 in 3 teens report knowing a friend or peer who has been hit, punched, kicked, slapped, choked, or otherwise physically hurt by his or her partner.
" 80% of teens regard verbal abuse as a serious issue for their age group.
Nearly 80% of girls who have been physically abused in their dating relationships continue to date their abuser.
Nearly 1 in 5 teenage girls who have been in a relationship said a boyfriend had threatened violence or self-harm if presented with a break-up
Almost 70% of young women who have been raped knew their rapist either as a boyfriend, friend, or casual acquaintance
Teen dating abuse most often takes place in the home of one of the partners
Elder Abuse
Types of Abuse:
Physical Abuse: Inflicting, or threatening to inflict, physical pain or injury or depriving a person of their basic needs.
Emotional Abuse: Inflicting mental pain, anguish, or distress on an elder person through verbal and non-verbal acts.
Sexual Abuse: Non-consensual sexual contact of any kind.
Neglect:Refusal, or failure by those responsible, to provide food, shelter, health care or protection for an elder adult.
Abandonment:The desertion of an elderly person by anyone who has assumed the responsibility for care or custody of that person.
Fraud and Exploitation: Illegal taking, misuse, or concealment of funds property, or assets of an elder person. For more about fraud against the elderly
