Family advocacy office aids in domestic violence awareness
By Senior Airman Shane Dunaway, 36th Wing Public Affairs
/ Published October 15, 2009
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam -- National Domestic Violence Awareness Month may only last 31 days, but the staff at the family advocacy office here ensures all base personnel and their families are conscious of domestic violence issues year round.
Domestic abuse is verbal, emotional, physical or sexual behavior that is controlling, humiliating, intimidating, threatening, blaming or violent against a spouse, partner or family member.
According to the American College of Emergency Physicians, domestic abuse is the single largest cause of injury to women between the ages of 15 and 44 in the U.S. - more than muggings, car accidents and rapes combined. Men are also at risk of domestic abuse.
"Domestic violence happens to children, to girlfriends and boyfriends, to spouses and to elders," said Esther Rollen, family advocacy intervention specialist. "It cuts across all sections of society regardless of age, ethnicity, race, religion, or socioeconomic status. It is self-perpetuating. Studies show that children who witness violence at home are at a high risk of engaging in future violence themselves, and so the violence becomes cyclical, feeding on itself."
In order to combat domestic abuse, family advocacy offers multiple ways to assist couples cope with the stressors associated with relationships, including couples communication classes, parenting classes, parenting of teens classes, surviving motherhood groups and stress management groups.
The programs in place supports family advocacy's quest to stop domestic abuse and create a safe environment for families.
"It amazes me that we think nothing of taking our cars in for a check-up, we get routine dental and medical check-ups but we ignore the opportunity to get a parenting check up or relationship check up," Mrs. Rollen said. "I believe that being a responsible parent or partner includes learning as much as possible about what to expect and how to handle daily problems before they get worse. If people learn to take pride in showing that type of responsibility, then we could prevent a great deal of heartache later."
To learn more about National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, contact the family advocacy office at 366-5167.