Domestic Violence Awareness Month

 

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

You as a congregational leader can help raise awareness about domestic violence in your congregation and community by completing these easy steps!

1. Print and use the “October Domestic Violence Awareness Month Bulletin Insert” one Sunday during the month of October. PDF Format Bulletin Insert

2. Use the attached “October Domestic Violence Awareness Worship Resources” during the month of October. PDF Format Worship Resources

3. Fill out the "Domestic Violence Poster" PDF Format and post in restrooms and other accessible locations at churches, laundromats, community organizations, etc.  Visit the National Domestic Violence Hotline web site for help filling out your local resources on the poster.  www.ndvh.org/get-help/help-in-your-area/

4. Learn more.  Did you know:

· 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men in the United States are victims of domestic violence at some point in their lives (Center for Disease Control, 2005).

· At least 3 women are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends each day (Bureau of Justice Statistics Crime Data, 2003).

· Females age 20-24 are at the greatest risk of nonfatal intimate partner violence (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2006).

· Domestic violence crosses all ethnic and cultural boundaries.

· We are all called to denounce and combat domestic violence and encourage greater awareness in our congregations and communities (ELCA Social Policy Action “Violence Against Women,” 1995).

By using these resources and showing you care, you are bearing an incredible witness to the urgency of domestic violence in homes, churches, and communities. For additional congregational resources on domestic violence, please visit www.faithtrustinstitute.org.

If you have questions or comments about these resources, please contact me via email at Mikka.McCracken@elca.org or toll free at 800-638-3522, ext. 2028.