PRESIDIO OF MONTEREY, Calif. (Nov. 3, 2022) — If nothing more, Jillian Santillanez, victim advocate for the Presidio of Monterey’s Family Advocacy Program, wants community members to know she is available as a resource.
In addition to providing support to victims of domestic violence, Santillanez can help friends, coworkers and family members who are concerned about someone who may be experiencing domestic violence.
“Domestic violence is not just a knock-down, drag-out fight where there’s property destruction or people getting severely injured,” Santillanez said. “Domestic violence can include isolation, control, coercion. That’s what I’ve seen a lot of coming out of Covid.”
Santillanez had a busy month during October, which is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. She kicked off the month by putting up banners on post. Next, she organized an event where Col. Sam Kline and Command Sgt. Maj. Joe Traylor, the U.S. Army Garrison PoM command team, gave away 180 water bottles with the local domestic violence hotline printed on them.
Then she highlighted the month through a Purple Pumpkin Giveaway, participated in the YWCA Monterey County Week Without Violence Seaside Walk and briefed service members about healthy relationships at two events.
Her goal throughout it all was to raise awareness so community members know she is there to help, increase knowledge of the Presidio’s domestic violence hotline number and provide information about domestic violence and healthy relationships. Her efforts, however, continue throughout the year.
Santillanez said it is important for people to know that domestic violence can impact all genders, socioeconomic statuses, and affiliations. It can have deep and long-lasting effects for people from all walks of life.
“If I have an awareness that domestic violence affects people from all these spectrums, then I’ll feel comfortable saying, ‘You know, can I talk to you about your safety? Do you have a plan? Do you know what the shelter number is?’” Santillanez said.
Santillanez started working as a victim advocate nearly 28 years ago after a job coach asked her to name her dream job. She went home, thought about it, and concluded that she wanted to help people in the military or people that have been abused or sexually assaulted. The coach helped find her a job answering a hotline and providing counseling at a domestic violence shelter, and she never looked back.
“What I like about my job is working ground level with people, helping them in times of crisis and being able to be a guide for people,” Santillanez said. “I like being a resource to them and to help them navigate through what is probably the worst time in their lives.”
In addition to the PoM community, Santillanez works with surrounding communities to fight domestic violence. She attends monthly meetings of the Domestic Violence Coordinating Council of Monterey County, which includes representatives from about 20 local organizations. She also works with her local counterpart for the Navy, Karlette Anderson, victim advocate for the Navy’s Fleet and Family Support Center, and they provided information at a table together at the Oct. 19 YWCA Monterey County Week Without Violence Seaside Walk.
At the walk, Christine Duncan, chief executive officer of YWCA Monterey County, said she appreciates Santillanez’s support with community domestic violence issues, as well as her presence at events such as the YWCA walk.
Santillanez holds domestic violence awareness events throughout the year, but many of them are concentrated in October. The Family Advocacy Program falls under PoM Army Community Service, and Allen Rivera, the organization’s head, said ACS and FAP personnel want the events to be fun as well as informational.
At the Oct. 14 Purple Pumpkin Giveaway, for example, Rivera said, “This event is important for our families to have a certain level of awareness that it’s number one: Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and number two: to enjoy themselves, to enjoy Halloween and to just be able to enjoy the holiday.”
Likewise, Hugo Ambriz Tena, advisor for PoM’s Better Opportunities for Single Service Members, said service members had a blast at an Oct. 21 pumpkin carving event that featured a briefing by Santillanez on healthy relationships at the beginning.
For those looking for online information about domestic violence, Santillanez said the Military OneSource website provides a lot of good information at www.militaryonesource.mil/family-relationships/relationships/domestic-abuse-help.
“They do a really good job for all kinds of categories for military families,” Santillanez said. “They are exceptional. They have tabs for leadership. They’ve got tabs for Soldiers, service members and for family members, and so I would really encourage people to visit their website.”
Santillanez said it is also important that people know they can call her and the hotline anonymously; they do not track phone numbers.
People can call Santillanez at (831) 242-5863 Monday through Friday. The PoM hotline number is available 24-7 at (831) 206-2789.
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