October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

October marks the start of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. This year, the issue hits home for those of us in the NAM service area : Sheriff Gonzales recently stated that 35% of homicides in the Harris County are domestic violence related.  In the past year, several tragic killings have occured in the neighborhoods of the NAM community, some within a few miles of NAM. 

Our Family Violence Center continues to be here to support those fleeing situations of domestic violence. Here are the following events that will take place during the month of October: 

October 3rd: Wreath Dedication Ceremony

Starting at 10 a.m. in the NAM Main Lobby

The DVAM wreath, created by NAM staff Patty Camacho, will be unveiled. The names of Houston area residents who lost their lives to domestic violence in the past year will be read to those attending the ceremony.  

“The wreath will stand as a reminder to all who are passing through NAM of the importance of not only remembering people, but of looking out for those around you,” she Sheryl Johnson at the 2021 Wreath Dedication. “Take a moment to think about the people you know. It is possible that you are suspicious of a neighbor or a relative’s behavior, or you know someone who was killed by a partner. Chances are, we all know at least one or two stories.

October 3rd - October 28th: DVAM Art Exhibit at Willowbrook Mall, during mall open hours

Exact location at Willowbrook Mall TBA. 

 October 15th: DVAM Art Exhibit Pop-Up at the Pearl Fincher Art Museum, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

View submitted artworks from local artists. The art was created to raise awareness of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. 

All artwork will be available for purchase, with 100% of the proceeds going to support survivors at the NAM Family Violence Center. Instructions on how to purchase will be posted soon! 

 October 7th, October 14th, October 21st and October 28th: Ask Me Anything with FVC staff 

10 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.,  Northwest Assistance Ministries, Second Floor, Conference Room A

Staff from the NAM Family Violence Center will be available every week of DVAM to help provide answers about domestic violence. The public is invited to come to NAM and ask any questions they have about the topic of domestic violence, with our staff providing answers. Here are some common questions: 

Why do victims stay with abusers?

Are men victims of domestic violence?

What can I do to help?

Source: nnedv.org

Join us in this safe space as we work to educate the public on the impact of domestic violence in our communities. 

October 20th: Go Purple Day

Participate from anywhere, all day!

Join us on this national day of supporting survivor by wear purple to raise awareness of domestic violence. Post the photos on social media, using the hashtags #dvam, #gopurpleday and #YouAreNotAloneDV

Para informacion en espanol deslice hasta abajo.

The Family Violence Center is dedicated to breaking the cycle of violence by assisting victims of domestic and sexual violence through crisis intervention, long-term support services, and through community violence and awareness prevention education.

The hope for a better life and the courage to take the first step must come from within, but NAM’s Family Violence Center (FVC) provides the resources to help clients find safe places, and offers support and the services to begin again on new paths.

The FVC offers a variety of services to victims/survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, including 24-hour hotline, telephone crisis counseling, access to emergency shelter, emergency food, clothing, transportation, medical assistance, professional counseling services for adults and their children, community outreach, information and referrals for battering intervention programs, as well as community and legal referrals. 

When fleeing an abusive home, individuals often leave everything behind to enter a world of financial and emotional upheaval. NAM’s multiple social service programs meet their basic needs while they work through the physical and emotional trauma they have experienced. Caring volunteer Peer Advocates provide support to clients as they recover their strength and self-esteem, and begin the daunting task of moving toward self-reliance.

The FVC continues to offer innovative programming to meet the needs of our clients. Play Therapy and Art Therapy services are a part of our support services directed toward children and adolescents. As the needs of our clients continue to grow, support from our community allows the FVC to grow and meet those needs.

In partnership with the Houston Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), the FVC helps assure the safety of all household pets through the PetSafe Project. With a referral from a family violence shelter or program, the SPCA will keep families’ pets, free of charge, while family members at risk seek safe refuge.

Domestic violence cuts across all social, economic and educational lines.  It affects all ages, ethnic groups and genders. Domestic violence has been identified as the number one reason for homelessness among women. Community education is an important tool in making our homes safer for all.  NAM’s FVC provides a Speakers’ Bureau, teen dating seminars and evening domestic violence education meetings for English- and Spanish-speaking groups.

Español

La esperanza de tener una vida mejor y el valor de dar el primer paso debe venir de sí mismo, pero el Centro de Violencia Familiar (FVC) de NAM proporciona los recursos para ayudar a los clientes encontrar lugares seguros y ofrece apoyo y los servicios para comenzar de nuevo.

El Centro de Violencia Familiar (FVC) ofrece una línea telefónica las 24 horas, asesoramiento de crisis telefónica, refugio de emergencia, acceso a refugio de emergencia, ropa, transporte, asistencia médica, servicios para adultos y sus hijos, alcance comunitario, información y referencias para programas de intervención de maltrato, policiales en la oficina, referencias legales y asesoramiento profesional  de acompañamiento de corte.

Para utilizar a estos servicios simplemente llame a la línea de la FVC al (281) 885-4673.

VIOLENCE PREVENTION EDUCATION

NAM’s Violence Prevention Educator is now hosting programs across various schools in the Klein, Aldine, Cy-Fair, Spring and Tomball school districts.

This program promotes awareness with the FVC’s Dating with Respect presentation and facilitating the FVC’s Youth Empowerment Program, which focuses on teen dating violence prevention.

This program provides teens the tools and knowledge to recognize abuse - with the goal of preventing intimate parter violence and domestic abuse before it happens. 

To learn about healthy/unhealthy relationship behaviors, red flags of abuse and more, watch our tiktok channel today!

@namprevents

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