September 30, 2011 –
MAYETTA: October begins tomorrow which is also Domestic Violence Awareness Month and the Family Violence Prevention Program is kicking it off with a Walk a Mile in Their Mocs event at Prairie Peoples Park. The community is invited to come gather and offer support for one another with the goal of helping to end violence.
Things begin at 9:30 a.m. with an open registration to be followed by a balloon release and moment of silence at 10 a.m. The walk begins at 10:30 a.m. and at 11 a.m. hamburgers and hot dogs will be provided by the PBPN Tribal Police. People are asked to bring their own dish bags (plates will not be provided to cut down on litter) and a side dish to share. Registrants will also receive an event shirt while they last.
The Family Violence Prevention program has a staff of three and is located in Social Services. The purpose of the program is to provide services to victims including counseling, transportation, and referrals. In addition, the program offers programs and educational materials geared to reducing violence in the community through presentations, exhibits, and through networking with other local, state, and national groups. The program also works closely on the common land with the Tribal Victims Assistance Program (TVAP) and Tribal Police Departments. Next Friday, the TVAP will unveil a Community Story Tree art project at a premiere at jones huyett Partners in Topeka as part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
The first Domestic Violence Awareness Month was observed in 1987 and in 1989 Congress passed Public Law 101-112 that declared October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. In 1994, another form of legislation called The Violence Against Women Act became federal law. Last year, President Obama issued a proclamation that included the following excerpt:
In the 16 years since the passage of the Violence Against Woman Act (VAWA), we have broken the silence surrounding domestic violence to reach thousands of survivors, prevent countless incidences of abuse, and save untold numbers of lives. While these are critical achievements, domestic violence remains a devastating public health crisis when one in four women will be physically or sexually assaulted by a partner at some point in her lifetime. During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we recognize the tremendous progress made in reducing domestic violence, and we recommit to making everyone’s home a safe place for them.