OCTOBER 2, 2014, WASHINGTON (NNS) – Navy Installations Command (CNIC) took action Oct. 1, by hosting a short ceremony for its headquarters staff to recognize Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
During the small event to raise awareness, Commander, Navy Installations Command, Vice Adm. William French signed a Domestic Violence Awareness Month Proclamation.
“We need to be sensitive of the folks we work with and look for the indicators of violence,” said French. “This is an integral part of what we do to take care of each other, “.
According to the proclamation, Domestic Violence Awareness Month is intended to inform and engage the community about preventing domestic violence throughout the Navy. Domestic violence occurs when people find themselves in stressful situations without community resources and unaware of how to cope.
“The right voice at the right time to the right person can open somebody up and you can find out things that you didn’t know,” said French. “But in many cases you find out things and can help them from there.”
Navy Installations Command has a wide variety of resources to support Sailors and their families and wants everyone to know about those services that may be of help. Support services are for family members and not exclusively for someone who is in trouble. Many times an individual may know of someone who needs help and can provide a tremendous amount of support by knowing where and how to get them in touch with the right person or program.
“Navy Family Advocacy supports the prevention of domestic violence through clinical counseling, new parent support programs and workshops that support family resiliency in dealing with the stress of naval service,” said Matt Straughan, CNIC family support program director.
According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence:
* Nearly 20 people per minute are victims of domestic violence by a domestic partner in the U.S.,10 million women and men per year.
* One in three women and one in four men have experienced some form of physical violence by an intimate partner within his or her lifetime.
* One in five women and one in seven men have experienced severe physical violence by an intimate partner in his or her lifetime. Intimate partner violence accounts for 15 percent of all violent crime. In domestic violence homicides, women are six times more likely to be killed when there is a gun in the house.
* Three to 10 million children are witness to domestic violence in their homes, and research has shown children who witness domestic violence and do not get help are more likely to become victims or perpetrators of future abuse.
* Nearly three out of four Americans personally know someone who is or has been a victim of domestic violence.
Installation Fleet and Family Support Centers (FFSC’s) located across the Navy both within the United States and overseas, have licensed clinical counselors who can provide services and support to help couples build their relationship skills and work through common relationship problems, for example, parenting challenges through every stage of a child’s life.
When domestic violence occurs the Family Advocacy Program supports victims and also provides treatment for offenders.
For more information about where to go for assistance, individuals may call the National Domestic Violence hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE or visit www.thehotline.org
