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A Safe Haven for Children and their Families
Grace Center's mission is to empower women
to break the cycle of domestic violence
in their lives and in their children's lives
so that they can live in a safe environment and
regain their dignity and self-esteem.
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One of Grace Center’s newest Spanish-speaking clients was referred after being arrested for defending herself. The client lived with her perpetrator for eight years. He abused her physically, emotionally, verbally and sexually. The client was court referred to Grace Center after being identified as the actual victim in the criminal case.
Grace Center has helped the client considerably by protecting her and her children from the perpetrator and receiving support through the program’s empowerment groups. The client is currently receiving legal advocacy and support as she advocates for herself in her legal proceedings. Referrals have been made to Five Acres on behalf of the children for individual counseling.
The client shared the following, “ Grace Center has been my angel. I didn’t know help like this existed for women like myself that have been abused. I didn’t know how to identify the abuse. Now, because of the empowerment groups, I am stronger.”
Domestic Violence Awareness Month evolved from the first Day of Unity observed in October, 1981 by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The intent was to connect battered women's advocates across the nation who were working to end violence against women and their children. The Day of Unity soon became a special week when a range of activities were conducted at the local, state, and national levels.
These activities were as varied and diverse as the program sponsors but had common themes: mourning those who have died because of domestic violence, celebrating those who have survived, and connecting those who work to end violence.
In October 1987, the first Domestic Violence Awareness Month was observed. That same year the first national toll-free hotline was begun. In 1989 the first Domestic Violence Awareness Month Commemorative Legislation was passed by the U.S. Congress. Such legislation has passed every year since with NCADV providing key leadership in this effort.
In October 1994 NCADV, in conjunction with Ms. Magazine, created the "Remember My Name" project, a national registry to increase public awareness of domestic violence deaths. Since then, NCADV has been collecting information on women who have been killed by an intimate partner and produces a poster each October for Domestic Violence Awareness Month, listing the names of those documented in that year.
For further information about Grace Center and domestic violence awareness, please contact Mindy by clicking here to email. Melinda Jensen-Joyet, LLCW