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October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and in an effort to increase awareness, the base fitness center displays silhouettes that represent victims of domestic violence and stresses the importance of prevention throughout the month of October on Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D. If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, call 911 or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airmen Xavier Navarro)

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Xavier Navarro
  • 319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and this year's theme is "Break the Silence to End Domestic Violence."

According to the North Dakota Council on Abused Women's Services and the Coalition against Sexual Assault in North Dakota for the State Health Department, there were 4,624 new victims of domestic violence who received services from crisis intervention centers in the state in 2012. At least 23 percent of the victims were under the age of 25, 94 percent of victims were women, and 169 women were pregnant at the time they were assaulted.

Karen Greyeyes, the Family Advocacy Outreach Manager, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, from the 319th Medical Group behavioral health flight.

"The goal for Domestic Violence Awareness Month is to increase knowledge of indicators of maltreatment, community awareness of available treatment and prevention services, awareness of reporting procedures and to reach active duty and civilian information on domestic violence and prevention," said Greyeyes.

Greyeyes explained that there is more information and resources available from the Family Advocacy Program at the base clinic here.

For those who come forward to report domestic violence, Greyeyes explained about the choices between restricted and unrestricted reporting.

"Restricted reporting allows a victim to disclose the details of abuse to victim advocates, sexual assault response coordinators (SARCs), and medical personnel without launching a full investigation," Greyeyes said. "It is intended to give victims additional time to make more informed decisions about reporting the incident to the appropriate authorities. When a victim files an unrestricted report, it will launch a full investigation, including possible criminal charges for the assailant."

Greyeyes said victims of domestic abuse are often afraid to report the abuse and think it will only make things worse.

"They may fear reporting the abuse due to fear of retaliation, losing a job, losing their children or fear for their lives," she said.

She said that everyone is affected by domestic violence; the perpetrator, the victim and the children, if there are children involved. In 2012, there were a total of 28 children affected by domestic violence on base, and a total of 840 cases of domestic violence in the Grand Forks area.

To help bring attention to the topic, Greyeyes said there will be exhibit shows on base throughout the month of October. At the commissary and the fitness center are silhouettes representing victims of domestic violence and stressing the importance of preventing domestic violence.

At the Airey Dinning Facility and Community Activity Center are empty places at a table representing the individual lives of those who have been murdered in the acts of domestic violence.

The reason behind these displays is to serve as a reminder to get help when you need it and to raise awareness about Domestic Violence, Greyeyes said.

For more information about Domestic Violence contact Family Advocacy at 701-747-6806.