By Kayla Woody, CPN House of Hope Prevention Specialist
Don’t stay silent. It’s time to speak up all month long.
October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The Citizen Potawatomi Nation House of Hope is here to help you become more aware of domestic violence in the community and provide support to those who are affected by it every day.
Every year, more than 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men in the U.S. deal with domestic violence daily. This abuse accounts for 15% of all violent crimes shown in a report by the U.S. Department of Justice. In the state of Oklahoma, nearly half of women and 40 percent of men in the state either have experienced or are currently experiencing abuse from an intimate partner. These staggering numbers mean there is likely a handful of people that you know who are experiencing abuse.
The House of Hope wants to raise awareness of this epidemic and teach the community to speak up and see that their voice matters.
With knowledge comes responsibility. If you find yourself in a situation where domestic violence has shown its ugly face, do not stay silent! Amelia Earhart once said, “The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity.” You may believe it is not your job, your business, or your responsibility. However, the only way to change the cycle is to bring attention to it and take the proper steps to extinguish it.
If you are unfamiliar with the signs, here are some things to look out for:
- Isolating partner from family and friends
- Controlling finances
- Blaming partner for their mistakes or problems
- Destroying property or hurting pets
- Monitoring of texts or social media accounts
- Using threats or verbal putdowns
- Frequent physical injuries
If you are unsure who to notify in a situation, contact your local law enforcement or seek out programs in your area, like House of Hope, that offer services for victims.
The CPN House of Hope provides services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence, regardless of race, age, gender, sexual orientation or financial status. It provides victim advocacy, support groups, parenting classes, transportation, court advocacy and safety planning. To contact please visit cpnhouseofhope.com, find us on social media @cpnhouseofhope or call 405-275-3176.