Domestic Violence Awareness Beyond October
October was Domestic Violence Awareness and Action Month, a perfect time to talk with the people in your life about what a healthy relationship looks like. Because Awareness + Action = Social Change.
This work doesn’t have to stop in October.
Domestic violence impacts people across our state. On Sept. 13, 2017, 41 programs in Washington state participated in the National Census of Domestic Violence Services. In one day, these programs served 1,808 survivors. This included providing 1,105 adults and children with emergency shelter. This is just one day.
The Office of Crime Victims Advocacy, here at the Department of Commerce, partners with the Department of Social and Health Services to ensure that victims and survivors of domestic violence in every county across the state receive the advocacy, support and resources they need.
All of us can work to end domestic violence.
A healthy relationship, whether it is with a friend, family member, co-worker, or partner, includes healthy communication and healthy boundaries. Some things that you can do include respecting each other, compromising, being supportive and respecting each other’s privacy. To learn more about domestic violence and actions that you can take to prevent it, visit the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence’s website: www.wscadv.org