Contact: Christine A. Gilfillan, Director, Domestic Violence Services Tel: 717.291.5826 ext. 3148 Email: cgilfillan@caplanc.org
September 26, 2022
OCTOBER IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH EVENTS PLANNED TO RAISE AWARENESS
Lancaster, Pa. – Domestic violence (DV) or intimate partner violence (IPV) impacts millions of people each year, and it can be prevented. It requires the collective voice and power of survivors and individuals, families, institutions, and systems – whose stories of strength, support, and resilience add valuable and powerful components to transforming our communities. Last year, Domestic Violence Services (DVS), a program of Community Action Partnership, served 1,817 local victims of domestic violence, including 86 children. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men have experienced contact sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime. This year has been a year of growth and resilience for DVS. Our 2022 theme, “Connect the Dots,” speaks to the work being done to make the necessary connections between DVS and survivors, DVS and professional systems and organizations, and DVS and the broader community. Finding a safe, affordable, permanent home for their family is one of the biggest challenges that domestic violence survivors face. To meet this need, DVS is preparing to launch several new initiatives with funding from The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) and the Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD). A housing team devoted to DV survivors, which will provide traumainformed supportive services at each stage of the housing process, is expected to launch November 1. “Domestic violence or intimate partner violence continues to be a major public health epidemic in our communities,” DVS Director Christine Gilfillan said. “For survivors experiencing homelessness, safe, affordable permanent housing may seem out of reach, yet it is their number one priority.” “By increasing supportive services for housing needs, survivors will be in a position to truly thrive.” To honor the resilience of domestic violence survivors, DVS will present various events with the theme, “Connect the Dots”, throughout the month of October. Please join us! MEDIA EVENT (not open to public) Thursday, Sept. 29 • Domestic Violence Awareness Month launch, 8:30 to 9:15 a.m., The Ware Center – Owen Salon, 42 North Prince Street PUBLIC EVENTS September 26-29 • Silent Witness Project at the Ephrata Library, 550 S. Reading Rd., Ephrata September 30 to October 11 • Silent Witness Project at the County Government Center, 150 N. Queen Street October 11 to 14 • Silent Witness Project at Penn Medicine Suburban Outpatient Pavilion, 2100 Harrisburg Pike