As part of a national movement to prevent violence, Atchison County recognized October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month with C.A.R.E. holding their annual Candlelight Vigil on October 5, 2016 at 6:30 p.m. on the front steps of the Atchison County Courthouse. The handrails of the courthouse steps were decorated in purple flower lights and tulle. Approximately 20 people of different age groups gathered in an effort to increase local awareness of domestic violence.
A vigil such as this improves community involvement in helping victims of domestic violence by making others aware of what happens on a day to day basis and where they can seek help if needed. Information was heard by attendees about various domestic violence statistics that occur in Missouri while others read poems.
“Victims – women, men and children in our communities – often need help and protection that they never receive,” said Teresa Morehouse, Victim Advocate. “It is so important that we make resources available to all survivors who need them.”
Some victims face difficulty when trying to access services – last year, more than 22,000 Missouri adults, youth and children were unable to find shelter or receive services at domestic violence programs due to lack of resources, according to the Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence programs. These programs continue to serve approximately 36,000 people with shelters through times of crisis, emergency and danger.
Domestic Violence Awareness Month is a time for all community members to learn about domestic violence, reflect on the costs of the crime to our society, promote laws and policies to improve our programs and services to the victims we serve, to stop victim blaming and to hold the offenders accountable for their actions in order to prevent domestic violence in our communities.
During the past two decades, Missouri has made strides in securing rights, protections and services for victims of domestic violence. Despite these advancements, each year, more than 50 percent of domestic violence incidents are never reported to the police. To join in this month’s activities and get involved contact C.A.R.E. of Atchison County, Inc., Teresa or Nikki, Victim Advocates, at 660-744-9966