Goochland confronts domestic violencePublished: October 21, 2009 By Kieran Evans The Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance defines domestic violence as “a pattern of abusive behaviors used by one individual to control or exert power over another individual in the context of an intimate relationship.” According to the International Violence Against Women’s Act, which was ratified in 2007, domestic violence “affects all countries, social groups, ethnicities, religions and socioeconomic classes and is a global, economic development and human rights problem of epidemic proportions.” Domestic violence in Goochland County “We currently have two families in emergency housing who are homeless due to domestic violence,” she said. In 2008, the Virginia Action Alliance reported 47 hotline calls in 2008 and 10 advocacy calls (in-hospital visits) for Goochland residents. And the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office says that it sees one or two cases of domestic violence per week. The Sheriff’s Office reported 197 phone calls concerning domestic disputes in 2008, and 172 so far this year, adding that the majority of these calls reveal no signs of physical abuse or violence. But exactly what constitutes a “domestic dispute,” and what are the signs of domestic violence? Among the most common forms of domestic violence, there are often no visible signs of marks; abuse can also involve verbal threats, coercion, or isolation from family and friends. Moving toward safety “I have worked with several folks in Goochland and the biggest barrier to accessing our services involves transportation logistics,” said Heady. “Our community counseling center is located at Willow Lawn, which is quite far to travel if you are coming from Goochland.” And if a woman cannot escape her situation, the abusive behavior can escalate and potentially be fatal. The decisions made in order to leave an abusive relationship involve a series of factors that are by no means simple. There may be children involved, financial constraints and a lack of support networks. And transportation issues, especially for people living in rural areas, can make relocation nearly impossible. “Choosing to leave is the most lethal time for the survivor,” said Heady, “so we should have services in place that can safeguard this individual and protect children if they are involved.” How is Goochland addressing the issue? But those resources can be hard to come by. Although the Goochland Department of Social Services provides investigations and services for abused and neglected adults and children if needed, it does not have an official domestic violence program. In Powhatan, Goochland’s neighboring county, Lynn Murphy, the Domestic Violence Program Coordinator with Powhatan’s Department of Social Services, provides free, confidential and supportive services to those impacted by domestic violence. These services include crisis intervention, counseling and education, case management, linkage to community resources, safety planning court advocacy, emergency shelter coordination and community outreach. “Right around the time I started in this position (in 2008), there was a family violence situation that resulted in a homicide and about a month later there was another situation between an uncle and a nephew that resulted in homicide…,” said Murphy. “You can see how this occurrence would reinforce the need for family violence/domestic violence services.” A statewide initiative to provide services in every county This position was created as part of a $3 million statewide initiative to create a domestic violence and sexual assault response team in each county. Right now most referrals within Goochland County are made to the YWCA located in Henrico Country. The YWCA provides a myriad of services to victims of domestic violence including residential services, a hotline, individual and group counseling, safety planning, referrals for employment and legal assistance. Most of YWCA’s services are located in Richmond, Henrico and Chesterfield counties, but they are not geographically limited. “Historically, Goochland’s large rural geography has contributed significantly to a lack of persons seeking services. Many survivors are isolated and transportation is prohibitive,” said Becky Lee, chief program officer at the YWCA of Richmond. “There are fewer resources available within a reasonable proximity for a victim to access without drawing attention to what they are doing.” According to Lee, the YWCA’s biggest challenges center on safe housing opportunities in the Goochland community. “Victims find it more difficult to reach out, other than through our hotline, for help.” Lee says that safe shelter for Goochland residents will be found either through an intermittent stay at a hotel or through a coordinated response with another service provider such as Safe Harbor. “Working with our partners is crucial,” said Lee. “ We would be more than thrilled to partner with Goochland County and our colleagues at Safe Harbor and Hanover Place to reach out more to our Goochland neighbors.” In Powhatan, Lynn Murphy believes that having a coordinated community effort to confront domestic violence is needed. “Some of the most pressing issues that need to be addressed currently include continued education within the community regarding the dynamics of domestic violence and implementing a coordinated community response.” Murphy adds, “It is important for communities to understand the definition, types and dynamic of domestic violence; it gets a conversation going about what is going on in the community and how the issues is or is not addressed… domestic violence impacts the entire community.” RESOURCES INFORMATION What is domestic violence month? Who does domestic violence affect? In 2008, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published data collected in 2005 that finds that women experience two million injuries from intimate partner violence each year. Nationally, it is estimated that 2 to 4 million women are assaulted by a domestic partner every year. One in four women will experience domestic violence at some point in her life. In Virginia, nearly a third of the murders committed in 2005 were related to domestic violence.
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