The Santa Clarita Child & Family Center is promoting October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, officials said Thursday.
Domestic violence is described as a batterer controlling their domestic partner through fear, and abuse can come in many forms, including physical, sexual, psychological or economic, according to officials with the Domestic Violence Program at the Child & Family Center.
Wednesday, the Child & Family Center held the second annual “Voices of Power” event aimed at encouraging those who may need help to seek it, and to educate those who don’t know the signs of abuse.
A key piece of the event is a billboard featuring a photo of a woman who has been abused. As participants remove pieces of the photo, the image underneath reveals the woman’s face is healing, according to Cheryl Jones from the Child & Family Center.
“It takes a community to see the change. We can’t always wait for somebody else to take care of it,” said Leah Parker, an outreach specialist with the center’s Domestic Violence Program. “It’s very much us — not just about me, not just about them, but about our community, and how we can stand together and fight against these things. That’s when we start to see change happen.”
At the outreach event, attendees had access to resources for the Domestic Violence Program, the Outpatient Substance Use Treatment Program and other programs the Child & Family Center provides.
The Domestic Violence Program offers shelter, intervention and prevention to survivors of domestic violence and their children. The program includes individual therapy, support groups, peer counseling and court advocacy, among other benefits, according to officials.
At the Voices of Power event, guests received additional information regarding domestic violence, such as signs of abuse, myths surrounding it, where to turn to for help and more.
“I always encourage people to keep talking about it. Talk to your kids about it and get the information out there,” Parker added. “Keep having conversations, because that’s when change happens.”
For those who may need help, the Child & Family Center has a 24-hour hotline at 661-259-4357.
Additional information about the center’s Domestic Violence Program can be found here. Santa Clarita residents interested in donating or volunteering with the center can call 661-259-9439.
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