Sheltering Wings

How You Can Raise Awareness

Story Provided

October is here! For us at Sheltering Wings, this means a greater opportunity to share with our community what awareness and prevention of domestic violence looks like and how everyone plays a role! From a declaration of our county commissioners, to people wearing purple to show their support of survivors, and so much more in between! However, there is a part of me that wishes to fast forward 20 years to see if the methods of awareness and prevention are working. While I know this isn’t possible, I do know that it is working! We just have to be patient and keep motivating each other to keep at the good work we are doing.

The awareness and prevention of domestic violence go hand in hand. We can’t prevent what we aren’t aware of, but awareness alone won’t equip us to act (or react) properly.

Raising awareness about domestic violence includes educating people about how to recognize and act against abuse, and making help accessible to survivors.

Preventing abuse includes eliminating factors that contribute to abuse. This means creating protective environments in schools, workplaces and communities, as well as engaging men as allies and teaching parents, adults and young people the skills they need for healthy relationships!

At Sheltering Wings, we are working to do a combination of both of these and we need your help as a community because it doesn’t have to be this way.

The coming month of awareness and prevention reminds us that domestic violence doesn’t have to be part of life. Family members don’t have to wonder how they can help, parents don’t have to guess at how to help their kids navigate relationships, and businesses don’t have to be unprepared for domestic violence to enter the workplace. It doesn’t have to be this way. Use our many resources, training and educational materials to prevent abuse from starting or happening again.

In October you can help raise awareness by:

• Attending one of our training sessions, or encourage your church, workplace or school to host one!
• Sharing accurate information via our social media posts!
• Stopping by our booth if you see us in the community!
• Wearing purple in October!

Help prevent domestic abuse by:

• Talking to young people in your life about healthy dating relationships!
• Helping youth in our community build developmental assets for success!
• Joining our Men IN Action efforts by attending our breakfast in October, or become a part of the committee!

We want the coming month of awareness and prevention (along with every month!) to be a reminder that it doesn’t have to be this way. Victims of abuse don’t have to hide in isolation, family members don’t have to wonder how they can help, parents don’t have to guess at how to help their kids navigate their relationships, and businesses don’t have to say someone else will help them. We have so many resources, training, and educational materials that can equip you to prevent abuse from starting and happening again. We hope that you will join our efforts in the prevention of abuse by visiting www.shelteringwings.org/dvap

Remember, it doesn’t have to be this way… but keeping abuse from happening takes each one of us to care and act!