“Domestic violence can happen to anyone regardless of race, age, gender, sexual orientation, or religion. Abuse affects a person emotionally, mentally, and physically. It is only through education and open conversations that we, as a community, can bring awareness to the growing numbers of reported domestic and dating violence cases and understand the needs of victims.”
– Ashley Williams, Survivor & Executive Director of Promise Place
October is domestic violence awareness month. During this time, local community members come together to communicate the danger signs of domestic violence and share the resources and tools victims can access to escape to safety. However, we all need to remain vigilant, each and every day. The more responsibility we hold as individuals – to be aware, and to take action – for our family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues – the closer we will come to eradicating domestic violence. The mission to end domestic violence begins with you.
What is Domestic Violence?
Domestic violence (DV) is a pattern of behavior in any relationship that is used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner. Abuse is physical, sexual, emotional, economic or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person. This includes any behaviors that frighten, intimidate, terrorize, manipulate, hurt, humiliate, blame, injure, or wound someone. Domestic violence can happen to anyone of any race, age, sexual orientation, religion or gender. It can happen to couples who are married, living together, or who are dating. It can occur among families, friends, neighbors, and colleagues. Domestic violence affects people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and education levels. Anyone can be a victim of domestic violence – even you.
Promise Place
Promise Place is a local non-profit DV shelter program which provides comprehensive services to victims of DV and their children. The nonprofit serves over 3,000 victims of DV and their children each year. Over 7,000 9th-grade and middle school students are taught annually through the Promise Place Teen Dating Violence Prevention Program. The organization relies predominantly on the community for donations and volunteers to continue to provide the much-needed services for victims of DV and their children.
Upcoming! Gather family, friends, colleagues, and neighbors to participate in the annual 5k Run & 1 Mile Walk to End Domestic Violence to raise awareness and help put an end to DV. Saturday, October 22, 2022. Please visit the Promise Place website for information for venue updates.
If you or anyone close to you need help, please call the Promise Place shelter’s crisis line at 770-460-1604. To become a volunteer, or gather more information, please visit promiseplace.org, or call 770-461-3839.
This article is supported by On-Call Alerts, an emergency response system that provides 24/7 response and monitoring at the touch of a button. Connect with us for your continued safety, freedom, and peace of mind. 678-524-3934. Oncallalerts.com.
Promise Place Programs
- 24-hour crisis hotline
- Crisis intervention
- Counseling services
- Emergency shelter
- Legal advocacy
- Weekly support group
- Childcare for support groups
- Emergency needs assistance
- Food pantry
- Child advocacy
- Community and workplace education
- Teen Dating Violence Prevention Education
- P.O.S.T. training for law enforcement
DV Statistics
- 1 in 5 of women and 1 in 7 men will experience severe physical violence by an intimate partner.
- 1 in 3 women and 1 in 6 men have been stalked by an intimate partner, placing them in fear for their own life or the lives of those close to them.
- The presence of a gun in domestic violence situations increases the risk of homicide by 500%.
- 41% of sexual and gender minority high school students and 11% of heterosexual students, report experiencing physical and/or sexual dating violence.