I’m joining the City of Chandler’s Domestic Violence Commission, community members and regional partners to raise awareness regarding the ongoing issue of domestic violence in our community. As a nurse and mother, it is heartbreaking to see the horrific effects of domestic violence on victims and their families.
Domestic violence is a complex problem too often ignored. It affects everyone, regardless of background, culture and economics. The only shame in domestic violence is the reality that it persists. Everyone deserves love and safety, and together we can help our neighbors and ourselves thrive. Young people in high school and college also must not forget that no means no in a dating relationship.
I have the distinct pleasure of representing Chandler on the Regional Domestic Violence Council, which provides a forum for coordinated action to address, prevent and eradicate domestic violence in our communities. We’re working to educate and empower people young and old to join the field of social work and social services advocacy.
By drawing attention to the prevalence of domestic violence, our goal is to raise awareness and offer educational resources that aid prevention.
Chandler’s Domestic Violence Commission has worked since 2005 to bring together community members and professionals from a variety of organizations to raise awareness and educate our City residents on this issue.
The Commission is made up of passionate advocates in our personal and professional lives who know the importance of breaking the silence on cycles of family violence. Recently, they hosted their 15th annual event focusing on survivor stories from our Native American communities.
The statistics around domestic violence often feel overwhelming. Across the nation, one in three women and one in four men have experienced some form of physical violence from an intimate partner in their lifetime.
Chandler Municipal Court has partnered with My Sisters’ Place to enable victims in the domestic violence shelter to file protective orders and be seen by a judge using remote technology that maintains a continued element of safety for the victim. Chandler Municipal Court typically processes about 75 orders of protection monthly.
Here are a few ways to support ending domestic violence:
- Break the silence. This isn’t a comfortable subject to talk about. Bring it to the light.
- Learn about it and listen to advocates and survivors doing the work. Sometimes people are crying out for help, but we don’t recognize it or know how to report what we see. When we see something, we need to say something.
- Volunteer or donate to organizations supporting families and survivors. My Sister’s Place is our local domestic violence shelter in Chandler.
- Teach children and youth about healthy relationships. Love Is Respect, a national organization, offers great materials about healthy relationships and dating for youth, caregivers, teachers and friends.
Christine Ellis is a City of Chandler Councilmember.