Domestic Violence Awareness Month puts a crucial spotlight on a public health issue that impacts all communities, including Nantucket, each and everyday. Even though you may not personally see abuse happening, please remember that does not mean that it is not happening.
October is a month focused on remembering victims whose lives were tragically lost to abuse, advocating for survivors, educating the public, and creating much needed change. Communities and advocates across the country come together to raise awareness in an effort to put an end to the cycles of violence and coercive control tactics.
While the statistics we see are based off of reported information, please remember that there are many hurdles survivors face that prevent them from reporting their abuse. Thus, incidents of violence and abuse are most likely much higher than what is recorded.
Currently, statistics show that one in four women and one in seven men will experience domestic violence in their lifetime. This number increases to 54% for trans or non-gender conforming individuals. Survivors of domestic violence are three times more likely to be diagnosed with anxiety or a major depressive disorder than those who have not experienced abuse.
It takes an average of seven attempts for a survivor to permanently leave their abuser (making leaving the most dangerous time within an abusive relationship). More than half of female homicide victims in the United States are murdered by a current or former male partner.
This past year, nineteen people lost their lives to domestic violence within the state of Massachusetts.
While we will never truly know the total amount of people who have been impacted within our state (and specifically within our island community), we do know that this public health issue has far reaching ripples in how it affects not only individuals but each and every community.
This is why awareness and education are so crucial in ending the cycles of abuse. Please join us this month in learning more about domestic violence and being part of the change one community at a time.
A Safe Place advocates Suzanne Fronzuto and Frejae Burrows represented A Safe Place at the Cape and Islands Regional Domestic Violence Council’s Resource Fair this past September in West Yarmouth.
The fair was a collaborative leadership event between the CCIRDVC and Independence House, Inc,, the Cape and Island’s District Attorney’s Office, and Yarmouth Police Department. It provided domestic violence resources and information for Cape Cod, Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard.
Island Health Fair
On Saturday, September 30, Nantucket Cottage Hospital hosted their free Island Health Fair in partnership with the Nantucket Council on Aging, the Nantucket Center for Elder Affairs, and the Knights of Columbus. The fair offered community members health screenings, flu shots, demonstrations and more while providing information on resources within the Nantucket community. A Safe Place staff members, Tania Pereira, Rachel Larson Devine, and Jennifer Frazee, were on site at our informational table with gentle reminders that community survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault are never alone.
In September, A Safe Place joined the National Network to End Domestic Violence and the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence in signing a letter to Congress during their Digital Day of Action.
A Safe Place was one of over 1,500 local, state, tribal, and national organizations who urged Congress to act to save the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grants, which provide lifesaving services to millions of survivors every year.
Funding for VOCA is potentially looking at a 40% cut this year by Congress. If the funding cut should pass, millions of survivors will lose access to services that are life saving and life sustaining when it comes to domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, elder abuse, and additional survivor services.
Maintaining essential VOCA funding is critical nation wide and a decrease in program funding would be felt in every community. A Safe Place’s Trauma Therapy Program is funded primarily by VOCA grants and without the sustained funding, we would likely not be able to continue to provide this service within the Nantucket community.
A Safe Place welcomes Nantucket High School (NHS) senior, Sydney Ard, as our newest intern as part of the NHS School To Career program!
Sydney is passionate about building awareness around topics that high school students may not fully understand or have a knowledge base of. She is part of the NHS Teen Truth group where she works with underclassman to help educate peers on communication, team building, critical thinking, and skills that create success in everyday life. She enjoys reading, writing, and being able to evoke emotion in others through her written work. Sydney’s goal is to become a social worker after college.
Sydney has been playing softball at NHS since her freshman year and is currently a co-captain. This past April during Sexual Assault Awareness Month, she spearheaded the Nantucket Whaler Softball team to raise awareness during their April 26 home game against Mashpee by wearing teal ribbons on their jerseys. She wanted to make it clear that NHS and the NHS softball team have the back of all survivors.
A Safe Place’s 2023 Annual Report is out!
The Date Smart Program is a collaboration between A Safe Place and the Nantucket Boys & Girls Club. This ten-week program allows students in grades 6 through 8 to examine their feelings about dating and relationships while being encouraged to become peer and community advocates for healthy relationships based on equality and respect.
The Date Smart 2023 program starts Thursday, October 5. For more information, please email annabel@asafeplacenantucket.org.
Thank you to J.McLaughlin Nantucket for hosting a Sip & Shop event this past month to benefit A Safe Place’s mission within the Nantucket community.
