by Eileen Ringnalda
Communication specialist
Iowa State University Extension to Communities
For years, the only thing heard about domestic violence was silence.
But things are beginning to change, and domestic violence programs are raising community awareness of this issue.
"Domestic violence was in the closet until the O.J. Simpson trial," said Sine Anahita, shelter operations director of Assault Care Center Extending Shelter and Support (ACCESS) in Ames. "It's kind of come out of the closet and now we can talk about it."
Talking about it has gradually increased the number of reported incidents. The number of reported incidents increased 11 percent over the previous year in 1994. But the difference between the number of cases reported to authorities and the number of victims asking for help from domestic violence centers remains great. In 1994, 5,769 cases of domestic violence were reported to Iowa authorities. In 1995, domestic violence centers served over 30,000 women and children.
Eighty-five percent of victims reporting domestic violence in 1994 were women. Often, they are trapped in a cycle of wanting to leave the abusive relationship and feeling pressure to stay. Victims want to believe abuse will not happen again and that it wonÕt happen because their spouse loves them. They fear that others will find out, and moving out of the abusive situation is not seen as an option since most victims do not think they can support themselves financially.
"[The victim] is not in a political position, a financial position or a legal position to stop it; only the batterer can stop it. But if you're in a community that gives a very strong message that he will be held accountable, he's more likely to stop it," said Kirsten Faisal, training coordinator of the Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
Teaching communities how to deal with domestic violence is one of the missions of the 15 domestic violence centers around the state. The goal is to create a community that clearly will not tolerate domestic violence so that the abuser knows he is committing a crime and the victim feels safe in seeking help.
Community education also is designed to raise awareness of the services available from domestic violence centers. Most centers offer crisis counseling, a 24-hour help line, support groups and temporary or long-term shelters. They serve as advocates for victims in the courtroom and maintain contact with other centers and community resources in order to refer victims to trained professionals who can help them.
The centers also coordinate "safe homes" for victims in rural areas. Faisal explained that the safe home program is more effective than shelters in small communities because a shelter is too visible in a small town--everyone would know what it was and who was there. The safe home program is made up of volunteers who allow victims of domestic violence to stay with them in emergency situations until the victim can be referred to a shelter or service providing further assistance. Faisal said they regularly change safe homes to protect confidentiality.
Stopping domestic violence relies on help from the entire community, according to Faisal. Medical services, law enforcement and schools should be prepared to respond to cases of domestic violence.
"Make sure hospitals have protocols and are trained, make sure your law enforcement officers are trained, ask your school board to have training on domestic violence and dating violence in the high school curriculum. If you make your community a safer place for [victims of domestic violence], it will make it a safer community for her to access services," Faisal said.
Phyllis Van Den Hull, director of the domestic violence center in Sioux Center, agreed that community awareness is key to addressing this issue. She has helped her center apply for a grant to fund a "massive community awareness program" including billboards, flyers in womenÕs bathrooms and brochures. "We need to make people aware that there is help available, that there is hope for the victim of abuse," she said.
Faisal added that the best prevention is to educate children about domestic violence. "It's important to recognize that it's not just about women, it's about children. Children are primary victims. Children are direct witnesses [of domestic violence], and they are aware of it, even when parents think that they are not," Faisal said. "Until we work on our kids and let children know that violence is not acceptable, we are going to keep putting Band-Aids on women."
More information about the closest domestic violence program or safe home in your area is available from the Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Faisal said to call the CoalitionÕs toll-free number, 1-800-942-0333.
Contacts:
Terry L. Besser, ISU
Extension Sociology, (515) 294-6508
Del Marks, ISU Extension
Communication Systems, (515) 294-9807
