October: Domestic Violence Awareness Month

  • Published
  • By Jerome Ellis
  • Family Advocacy
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  According to the American College of Emergency Physicians, domestic abuse is the single largest cause of injury to women between the ages of 15 and 44 in the U.S.; more than muggings, car accidents, and rapes combined. Men are also at risk of domestic abuse and our community is not immune.

This year's theme for Domestic Violence Awareness Month is 'It Starts with Respect: Live by Core Values to Keep Your Relationship Healthy and Strong.'

Mutual respect is a central element of healthy relationship core values. Family Advocacy Program goals continue to target facilitation of a culture of sensitivity to the issues that impact our communities' shared responsibility regarding domestic abuse and child maltreatment prevention.

Our mission in family advocacy is the prevention of domestic and child abuse through education programs and reaching out to families before the abuse occurs. Our focus is mission readiness.  We do this by providing prevention services to families that assist them with the ongoing challenges associated with mission and family.

Team Seymour promotes strong individuals and families through spiritual and emotional growth, as well as mental and physical health. This empowers all community members to not only adapt, but thrive on the unique challenges with the Air Force way of life. The programs in place back family advocacy's quest to suppress domestic abuse and create a safe environment for families.

Leaders across our installation are joining together and spreading the word that Domestic Violence Awareness Month may only last during October, but everyone needs to be conscious of domestic violence issues year-round. Even one incident is one too many. Our goal is to continue educating our base population about a problem that can quickly cripple a community.

We want our community to be a model of what we would consider peaceful homes. Hopefully, we'll build relationships that other societies and communities can emulate.