TITLE
Title
PROCLAIM OCTOBER 2019 AS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH IN GUILFORD COUNTY
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SPONSOR
Sponsor
Commissioner Kay Cashion
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RESOLUTION
Resolution
WHEREAS, during National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we reaffirm our dedication to fostering a culture of safety and hope in our community where no one suffers the hurt and hardship caused by domestic violence; and
WHEREAS, domestic violence impacts women, men, and children of every age, background, and belief and is rooted in a pattern of control within an intimate relationship where one person uses coercion and violence to gain power over his or her partner; and
WHEREAS, physical marks and scars are often the most obvious sings of harm caused by domestic violence, however the extent of the pain may exist much deeper and can impact one’s mental, physical, emotional, and financial health; and
WHEREAS, the national average shows that more than three individuals are murdered every day by an intimate partner. In 2018, the North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence reported that 52 women, men, and children were murdered in domestic violence-related homicides in our State; with Guilford County reporting 3 domestic violence-related deaths; and
WHEREAS, Family Service of the Piedmont responded to approximately 3,100 crisis line calls in the last fiscal year and collectively the Greensboro Police Department, High Point Police Department, and the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office reported over 19,000 calls for service involving domestic and/or sexual violence; and
WHEREAS, the Guilford County Department Health and Human Services Division of Social Services in 2018 received 4,607 reports to Child Protective Services and 838 reports of elder abuse and neglect to Aging and Adult Services; and
WHEREAS, children who witness domestic violence are more likely to transmit violent behavior from one generation to the next and are more likely to exhibit behavioral and physical health problems; and
WHEREAS, in a community partnership, the Guilford County Family Justice Center (FJC) has successfully brought together a multitude of agencies in one place to provide victims with easier access to comprehensive resources through a coordinated collaborative effort; and this partnership provides hope and healing to victims of abuse and works diligently to hold offenders accountable; and
WHEREAS, since the opening of the Guilford County Family Justice Center in mid-June of 2015, over 27,000 citizens in crisis have been served; and in October 2018 Guilford County partnered with the City of High Point and many community partners to open a second FJC location in High Point ensuring that citizens throughout the county have access to coordinated, life-saving resources; and
WHEREAS, by working together and promoting awareness in this community we can restore hope, stop the violence, and make our community safer for everyone.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Guilford County Board of Commissioners that it does hereby proclaim October 2019, as “DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH” and urges our citizens to increase their awareness and education of this destructive force, which deeply affects many families in our State and local community each year. We ask everyone to play an active role in preventing and ending domestic violence by joining efforts to make our community a safer place for all. During National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we recommit to making sure that no one suffers alone and to assisting those who need help in reaching a safer tomorrow.
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REQUESTED ACTION
Requested Action
Approve proclamation declaring October 2019 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Guilford County.
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