October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM), dedicated to raising awareness about domestic violence and its impact on individuals, families and communities. The national campaign unites organizations and individuals across the country to provide resources to survivors while instituting programs to raise awareness as a means of prevention.
Domestic violence is a pervasive issue in every community, regardless of age, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, gender, race, religion, or nationality. Recognizing the early warning signs such as emotional manipulation, isolation, and controlling behavior is important to prevent escalating abuse which often includes physical, emotional, mental, sexual or financial abuse.
Recent statistics show that over 47 percent of women have encountered sexual violence, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime. Annually, family and domestic violence affects an estimated 10 million people in the United States, with one in four women and one in nine men being victims of domestic violence.
Help for Victims of Domestic Violence
Domestic violence resources include The National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or TTY 1-800-787-3224), a toll free helpline available to help victims of domestic violence and their families. Services include confidential support at no cost, immediate crisis intervention and safety planning, connection to local resources and services, and information regarding legal and financial resources.
Closer to home, in Lake County, Illinois, A Safe Place provides multi-faceted programs to assist victims of domestic violence, with a 24/7 crisis line (847-249-4450, Toll Free: 1-800-600-SAFE) and emergency shelter. A myriad of other crucial resources are provided such as counseling and intervention, courthouse advocacy, and transitional housing to help victims and their families break the cycle of violence .
Contact an Experienced Family Law Attorney for Help
Domestic violence takes a toll on families, often leaving victims feeling exhausted, in a state of perpetual fear, with no clear way out of the situation. It is important to explore various resources including national and local domestic violence centers for information AND working with a family law attorney who can help victims navigate the legal process of separating from an abusive spouse or partner.
An experienced attorney can help victims of domestic violence with emergency or temporary orders for custody of children, orders of protection to keep an abusive spouse or partner away, exclusive use of a family home, and spousal and child support while working toward a permanent agreement which may include divorce. Contact Libertyville family law attorney Ronald L Bell for immediate assistance today.