Standing up to Domestic Violence

SOUTH BURLINGTON TO HOST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FORUM Wednesday, October 30, 2019 5:30 pm | F. H. Tuttle Middle School
The South Burlington City Council will host the second of a two-part series of community forums on domestic violence beginning at 5:30 PM on Wednesday, October 30. The forum will be held in the cafeteria of the Frederick H. Tuttle Middle School, 525 Dorset Street, South Burlington and dinner will be served.

The Council designated October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month and is hosting two forums to educate residents on this type of violence, learn more about services for survivors and facilitate a community response. The first forum held on October 10th featured presentations by survivors of domestic violence, an overview of services from organizations providing support for survivors and also a perspective from law enforcement.
The second forum scheduled for October 30, will focus on resources and support for domestic violence survivors. There will be a panel discussion from members of law enforcement on how to work with police to report such incidents, as well as recognition of warning signs for youth and for adults. The forum will conclude with a discussion about a focused community response to domestic violence and what individual residents and families can do to help address this issue.
One in four women in the U.S. will experience domestic violence in their lifetime, most frequently by somebody they know. Almost one out of five murder victims in the U.S. were killed by an intimate partner and, on average, more than three women are murdered by an intimate partner in the United States every day. Domestic violence is the third leading cause of homelessness among families with 50% of all women who are homeless reporting that domestic violence was the immediate cause of their homelessness. One in fifteen children are exposed to intimate partner violence each year and 90% of these children are eyewitnesses to violence.
In response to this reality and a recent domestic violence-based tragedy in the community, the City Council designated October as Domestic Violence Awareness month and organized these forums. All members of the community, with an interest in domestic violence issues or who wants to learn more and to work toward solutions, are encouraged to attend the forum on October 30.