Domestic violence: The end begins with community awareness
By Andra Bryan Stefanoni
THE MORNING SUN
The reasons it occurs are varied, the reasons people allow it are just as varied, and the statistics pertaining to it could easily fill a sheet from a pad of yellow legal paper.
It is an ambitious task to take on, the task of ending domestic violence.
But the Rev. K.O. Noonoo, Pittsburg Presbyterian Church, has started down the road, step by step, in an attempt to lessen the impact felt in this community.
It is his desire that others in southeast Kansas come forward and join him.
According to FaithTrust Institute, domestic violence refers to a pattern of violent and coercive behavior exercised by one adult in an intimate relationship over another. It may consist of angry words, threats, or control, or repeated severe beatings and in many cases, death.
By the end of this day, at least three American women will have been murdered by their husbands or boyfriends, reports the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence.
In fact, their statistics show that domestic violence is the most common cause of injury to women in the U.S. - exceeding the number of injuries from auto accidents, muggings, and rapes combined. It crosses all economic, educational, ethnic, age and racial lines in equal proportions; there is no "typical" victim.
It is Noonoo's hope that, by teaching young people and adults in his congregation and the community to resolve conflict through non-violent communication, and by working on the four-step process of non-violent communication proposed by Marshall Rosenberg (see yesterday's Morning Sun), he'll make some kind of dent in the statistics.
"Violent language can be introduced to relationships in very small ways, but then a person can become resentful, the situation is magnified, a marriage or relationship is negatively impacted, and sometimes even actual physical violence can occur," Noonoo explained.
What others are doing
In recent years, several other area organizations have formed in hopes of making a dent, as well. Among them, Mt. Carmel Medical Center's Crossroads Counseling Center and the Office of Violence Response and Prevention at Pittsburg State University.
The former of the two is equipped with staff experienced in working with all ages and backgrounds for behavioral health problems that can play a role in domestic violence. The staff includes psychiatrists, psychologists, clinicians, registered nurses, social workers, and other professionals.
The latter of the two seeks to make a difference at a time during which many lifelong relationships, including marriage, begin: at college.
Two of the PSU office's programs actively seek to prevent violence: Men Against Violence, an all-male group devoted to raising awareness on the issues of gender-based violence, and Students Against Violence Through Education, created as an all-female group devoted to raising awareness through education and modeling appropriate behavior.
All members are required to complete a 3-credit hour course and an all-day training. To date, they have presented to more than 3,000 people an interactive program that demonstrates several violence-related messages.
In addition, the Southeast Kansas DELTA Project, funded by the Center for Disease Control, is one of five statewide groups participating in the national five-year project that seeks to understand how domestic violence can be prevented.
According to DELTA project leaders, it takes a community to effectively end sexual and domestic violence.
"Since our knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors are shaped by influences at multiple levels of the social ecology, it requires a community-level response to end sexual and domestic violence. Delivering multiple messages at multiple levels over time creates change. The more parts of the community that provide prevention messages, the more likely it is that change will occur," the organization's literature states.
What you can do
1. Talk to youth about healthy relationships and model the behavior you want them to adopt.
2. Speak up when others make sexist comments or engage in victim blaming.
3. Contact your legislators to encourage them to support intervention and prevention services.
4. Become involved in prevention and intervention efforts in your community.
5. Encourage your employer to offer training on sexual and domestic violence in the workplace.
6. Approach your faith leader about starting a sexual and domestic violence program within your faith community.
7. Educate young people to be informed consumers of the mass media so they can recognize negative messages about relationships.
8. Let businesses know when they offend you with sexist promotions and advertising campaigns.
9. Offer support to persons you believe may be experiencing domestic or sexual violence.
10. Work with community officials to encourage them to adopt sexual and domestic violence prevention programs in your community.
If you or someone you know is in danger, call 911. For advocacy, counseling, and referral, contact the Kansas Statewide Hotline 1-888-END-ABUSE, or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at: 1-800-799-SAFE. An advocate will speak with you about your situation, your safety, and the options available. All conversations with advocates at these resources are strictly confidential.
Tomorrow: This series continues with anecdotes and tips for readers pertaining to non-violent communication in domestic relationships.
Andra Bryan Stefanoni is a staff writer and can be reached at andra.stefanoni@morningsun.net
THE MORNING SUN
The reasons it occurs are varied, the reasons people allow it are just as varied, and the statistics pertaining to it could easily fill a sheet from a pad of yellow legal paper.
It is an ambitious task to take on, the task of ending domestic violence.
But the Rev. K.O. Noonoo, Pittsburg Presbyterian Church, has started down the road, step by step, in an attempt to lessen the impact felt in this community.
It is his desire that others in southeast Kansas come forward and join him.
According to FaithTrust Institute, domestic violence refers to a pattern of violent and coercive behavior exercised by one adult in an intimate relationship over another. It may consist of angry words, threats, or control, or repeated severe beatings and in many cases, death.
By the end of this day, at least three American women will have been murdered by their husbands or boyfriends, reports the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence.
In fact, their statistics show that domestic violence is the most common cause of injury to women in the U.S. - exceeding the number of injuries from auto accidents, muggings, and rapes combined. It crosses all economic, educational, ethnic, age and racial lines in equal proportions; there is no "typical" victim.
It is Noonoo's hope that, by teaching young people and adults in his congregation and the community to resolve conflict through non-violent communication, and by working on the four-step process of non-violent communication proposed by Marshall Rosenberg (see yesterday's Morning Sun), he'll make some kind of dent in the statistics.
"Violent language can be introduced to relationships in very small ways, but then a person can become resentful, the situation is magnified, a marriage or relationship is negatively impacted, and sometimes even actual physical violence can occur," Noonoo explained.
What others are doing
In recent years, several other area organizations have formed in hopes of making a dent, as well. Among them, Mt. Carmel Medical Center's Crossroads Counseling Center and the Office of Violence Response and Prevention at Pittsburg State University.
The former of the two is equipped with staff experienced in working with all ages and backgrounds for behavioral health problems that can play a role in domestic violence. The staff includes psychiatrists, psychologists, clinicians, registered nurses, social workers, and other professionals.
The latter of the two seeks to make a difference at a time during which many lifelong relationships, including marriage, begin: at college.
Two of the PSU office's programs actively seek to prevent violence: Men Against Violence, an all-male group devoted to raising awareness on the issues of gender-based violence, and Students Against Violence Through Education, created as an all-female group devoted to raising awareness through education and modeling appropriate behavior.
All members are required to complete a 3-credit hour course and an all-day training. To date, they have presented to more than 3,000 people an interactive program that demonstrates several violence-related messages.
In addition, the Southeast Kansas DELTA Project, funded by the Center for Disease Control, is one of five statewide groups participating in the national five-year project that seeks to understand how domestic violence can be prevented.
According to DELTA project leaders, it takes a community to effectively end sexual and domestic violence.
"Since our knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors are shaped by influences at multiple levels of the social ecology, it requires a community-level response to end sexual and domestic violence. Delivering multiple messages at multiple levels over time creates change. The more parts of the community that provide prevention messages, the more likely it is that change will occur," the organization's literature states.
What you can do
1. Talk to youth about healthy relationships and model the behavior you want them to adopt.
2. Speak up when others make sexist comments or engage in victim blaming.
3. Contact your legislators to encourage them to support intervention and prevention services.
4. Become involved in prevention and intervention efforts in your community.
5. Encourage your employer to offer training on sexual and domestic violence in the workplace.
6. Approach your faith leader about starting a sexual and domestic violence program within your faith community.
7. Educate young people to be informed consumers of the mass media so they can recognize negative messages about relationships.
8. Let businesses know when they offend you with sexist promotions and advertising campaigns.
9. Offer support to persons you believe may be experiencing domestic or sexual violence.
10. Work with community officials to encourage them to adopt sexual and domestic violence prevention programs in your community.
If you or someone you know is in danger, call 911. For advocacy, counseling, and referral, contact the Kansas Statewide Hotline 1-888-END-ABUSE, or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at: 1-800-799-SAFE. An advocate will speak with you about your situation, your safety, and the options available. All conversations with advocates at these resources are strictly confidential.
Tomorrow: This series continues with anecdotes and tips for readers pertaining to non-violent communication in domestic relationships.
Andra Bryan Stefanoni is a staff writer and can be reached at andra.stefanoni@morningsun.net
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