October is officially Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) in Boise. Boise Mayor David Bieter joined local and national officials in proclaiming October as DVAM in Boise on October 1st. Throughout the month we are partnering with local organizations and supporters to bring awareness to how this issue impacts our community.
Here in Idaho, we are blessed to with a fantastic community, a wonderful place to live and raise a family. However, the epidemic of domestic abuse exists even here. In fact, last year there were 4,552 calls for service to law enforcement agencies (including 911) in Ada County alone related to domestic violence and sexual assault.
According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have been victims of some form of physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime. However, domestic abuse is not just an issue of physical violence and extends to any relationship between intimate partners. An abusive relationship exists when one partner exerts power and control over another through a variety of behaviors, including isolation, intimidation, threats, withholding financial support or physical violence.
We ask that all members of our community throughout October take time to learn more about what domestic violence is and start conversations around how this issue is impacting our community. The following are good sources to learn more about recognizing the signs of domestic violence and what the WCA is doing during DVAM. Following us on social media will also provide more resources related to DVAM.
