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
Social Sharing