Lenawee County: Domestic Violence Awareness

Press release from the Lenawee County:

October 15, 2021

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH

WHEREAS, Domestic Violence Awareness Month provides an excellent opportunity for citizens to learn more about preventing domestic violence and to show support for the numerous organizations and individuals who provide critical advocacy, services, and assistance to victims on a national level.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE does not discriminate based on race, religion, gender, or economic status; ANYONE can be a victim. In our home state the Michigan State Police Incident Crime Report indicated that there were 64,778 victims of domestic violence in 2020, which is an increase of over 20,000 from just two years ago. Unfortunately, there is no way to determine how many more victims are suffering silently and not involving law enforcement.

Catherine Cobb Safe House has been providing emergency shelter to victims fleeing domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking for the last 36 years. In 2020, emergency shelter was provided to 165 women and children seeking refuge. Support services that include legal advocacy, community resource information, and trauma focused care was provided to an additional 50 survivors within the community that did not require shelter and answered 750 crisis calls. Domestic violence not only affects the health and safety of an individual, but the medical expenses, police and court costs, shelters, foster care, work absenteeism, and non-productivity affects our entire community. Only a coordinated effort will put a stop to this atrocious crime within our homes.

While we are fortunate to have critical resources working together for such a worthy cause in Lenawee County, our collective mission must be to eliminate the need for such services.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, in recognition of the important work of domestic violence programs, the Board of Commissioners hereby proclaims the month of October to be

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all citizens are challenged to recognize the signs of abuse, to become familiar the support system available for families victimized by abuse, and to seek solutions for ending abuse within familial homes. Visit the Michigan Coalition to end Domestic and Sexual Violence or the National Network to ending Domestic Violence website for more information; check into volunteer opportunities; call the Catherine Cobb Safe House 517-265-5352; and for HELP call

Local Shelter Crisis Hotline: 517-265-6776

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE or 1-800-787-3224 (TTD)

Central Dispatch: 9-1-1

PASSED BY ROLL CALL VOTE of the Lenawee County Board of Commissioners at a regular meeting held Wednesday, October 13, 2021, in Adrian, Michigan.

David Stimpson, Chair

Rebecca Borton, Deputy Clerk

This press release was produced by the Lenawee County. The views expressed here are the author’s own.