Garrisons to focus on preventing domestic abuse in October

By Installation Management Command EuropeSeptember 30, 2011

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HEIDELBERG, Germany -- U.S. Army garrisons across Europe have a variety of activities scheduled in October as part of Domestic Abuse Prevention Month.

The theme for this year's campaign, "Together we can end domestic abuse: Act now!," zeros in on the idea that a focused Army community with focused individuals committed to building and maintaining physical, emotional, social, and spiritual fitness can prevail over domestic abuse.

"The most important thing we do is take care of Soldiers, Civilians, and Families," said Secretary of the Army, John M. McHugh, while outlining his 10 Top Priorities

According to Brandi Stauber, Installation Management Command Europe, Family Advocacy Program manager "taking care of Soldiers, Civilians and Families is best achieved by community collaboration. Domestic violence is a challenge to our nation; One the military is not immune to. "

The Family Advocacy Program is dedicated to the prevention, education, prompt reporting, investigation, intervention and treatment of spouse and child abuse. The mission is accomplished through a variety of methods; seminars, workshops, counseling and intervention services. One such service, victim advocacy, provides 24/7 non-clinical advocacy services, crisis intervention, safety planning, information, referral, and support.

"Our prevention and education programs, as well as the Army's mandated interventions when abuse has already occurred, are designed to help Families cope with the stressors of transitions, deployments, and the innate challenges of military life and aimed to improve prevention and response to domestic abuse," said Stauber.

Despite these extensive and ongoing prevention efforts, domestic abuse continues to occur, thus undermining family readiness and Army core values.

"For example, Soldiers and their Family members may fail to recognize risk factors that affect their relationships" said Stauber. "Research shows that risk factors such as combat-related Post Traumatic Stress, substance abuse, exposure to violent video games, pornography, and behaviors related to risk taking and sensation seeking, all play into and complicate the problem of domestic abuse ."

Stauber said she encourages Soldiers and their Families to participate in their garrison's Domestic Abuse Prevention Month activities and utilize the resources available to prevent domestic abuse.

Prevention and intervention can be achieved through a variety of actions such as strengthening your own relationships and connecting neighbors or Family members experiencing problems to reporting point of contact and referral sources.

For more information about Domestic Abuse Prevention Month activities in your community, call your local Army Community Services.

Scheduled Events:

Baden-Wurttemburg

Oct 7/Oct14: Movie Nights: Secret Life of Bees/Sleeping with the Enemy

Oct 17-21: Domestic Violence Intervention Conference

Oct 25: Annual Women's Conference

Baumholder

Oct 21: 80's Party to promote awareness

Bamberg

Oct 1-31: Information tables at PX/Commissary

Brussels

Oct 1-26: Shelter Donation Drive

Oct 11: Proclamation signing with Garrison Commander

Oct 17: Communication workshop (lunch/child care available)

Garmisch

Oct 1-31: Facebook DV "FACTS"/ 3rd Annual Cell Phone for Shelter Drive

Oct 3-7: Teen Dating Violence Prevention activities

Oct (TBD): Self Defense Class

Grafenwoehr

Oct 1: "Walk a Mile in Her Shoes" men's march

Oct 28: Father Son Pancake Dinner

Oct 1-31: Silent Witness Display

Stuttgart

Oct 12/26: Information booth/Silent Witness display

Oct 15: "70's Jam" celebration at the Kelly Club

Oct 21/22: Mobile Canteen lunch and learn

Vicenza

Oct 1-31: Display Community Quilt of Hope & Silent Witness Silhouettes

Oct 13: Mile Against Domestic violence Dash (MAD Dash) (Community Run/Walk)

Oct 15/22/29: Self Defense Classes

Related Links:

Installation Management Command Europe