From: Lisa Shafran
Columbus
“Connection is Prevention” is the theme this October for Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM). Due to COVID-19, Turning Point was forced to cancel awareness events and the multiple in-person opportunities we normally have to “connect” with our communities.
This year we will connect via social media, electronic communication and a few socially distanced outdoor events. We are very fortunate to be considered essential programming in our schools, bringing healthy relationship education to future generations. Connection is critically important to our work.
In today’s world, the necessity of physical distancing has made connection much more difficult, and simultaneously much more important.
Many individuals are experiencing isolation and economic insecurity. Domestic violence incidents have increased. Domestic violence-related fatalities in our state have increased by 86% compared to the same period last year. It is more important than ever that we know how to safely connect with our neighbors.
One of the core beliefs that guides all the work we do at Turning Point is that connected communities have the power to prevent violence. Being part of a connected community means knowing your neighbors, setting an expectation for respectful relationships, and holding people accountable when they fall short of that expectation. It means being available for the people who are close to you when they are going through a hard time.
But it also means being conscious of the needs of people around you and addressing issues that matter to them. It means creating social safety nets for people going through hardships and fighting for equity and inclusion for those who have less privilege in our society because of their race, socioeconomic status, disability, age, gender and more. We also know that communities thrive when all the members of that community can be connected to resources that help them navigate through difficult times.
Domestic violence survivors define safety as more than the absence of violence. In order to feel safe, survivors need to know their basic needs are met. This becomes even more critical during a global pandemic when it may be difficult to find safe and stable housing, employment, or resources, it is more important than ever to remember that our communities thrive when ALL its members thrive.
During DVAM 2020, we will focus on the power of connections. The issue of domestic and dating violence is connected with so many other issues our communities face; and the potential to end domestic and dating violence also lies within connections to others in a community where everyone feels a shared responsibility to create a more equitable, safe, stable, nurturing environment for all.
Connection is prevention, and this October we would like to hear from you, what connections have you made to create a safe and connected community. We would love to share your stories on our social media — our way to connect for DVAM 2020.
Thank you for supporting our work, we hope we can “connect” in person soon.
