WELCOME BACK TO THE PEACH STATE!

by: Nicole Adamo

(Perry. GA)

When I received the amazing Notorious PGV t-shirt, I thought, “What better way to celebrate than to pay homage to my career passion by heading back to where it all started?” So I packed my bags and headed down to Valdosta, GA where I was first employed at the Haven, the local domestic violence shelter, as their Children’s Program Advocate.

Being October and Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Haven was busy with weekly, sometimes daily, awareness events. Of the many things I always enjoyed about being in the shelter (working with the women and children as well as my dedicated co-workers) was the close-knit working relationships the Haven always had with other community agencies and the community itself. The Friday that I arrived in Valdosta, the Haven’s Shelter Manager was speaking to the clinic personnel at Moody Air Force Base. Along with the Shelter Manager was a volunteer and survivor of domestic violence. She bravely shared her story with all those in the room, and addressed the clinic personnel on how they play such a key role in domestic violence prevention and intervention. She asserted that more was needed than just simply reading a statement such as “Do you feel safe in your home?” while staring at a clipboard and waiting for the “yes” in order to check the box. Not that this is always the case, but she stated that medical professionals need make sure they are present and to go further by “asking the right questions.” These clinicians within the Air Force Base clinic, as well as medical personnel everywhere, can learn how to approach these questions better by teaming up with not only the Domestic Abuse Victim Advocate on their military base, but also by doing exactly what Moody AFB did that day, by pairing up with other professionals in the community that specialize in domestic violence.

Left: Me at the Moody Air Force Base & Family Advocacy Center’s Domestic Violence Awareness Event

Right: The Haven’s Shelter Manager, Karen Yawn, standing next to one of the Domestic Violence Silent Witnesses that are found throughout agencies in the 9 counties serviced by the Haven

The following day, Haven advocates were headed to a local church where they were addressing both the congregation and the ministry about domestic violence, red flags of abusive relationships, and where they can turn to if help is needed or if they have questions for others. These working relationships within the community are so important because, despite what some might think, domestic violence is not just a family problem, or a police problem, but is a community-wide problem that is present in every community, not only in the United States, but throughout the world.

Starting the conversation about domestic and/or sexual violence isn’t always easy, but it is necessary. If you are unsure about how to approach the topic with a friend, family member, co-worker, patient, neighbor, or congregation member, there are people available to help walk you through how to be an advocate for someone in need. As stated by the amazing Haven volunteer, “secrets and silence allows domestic violence to thrive.” This is also why it is so important for domestic violence agencies to go out into the community and the schools to help start the conversation.

We can’t all be experts on everything, but by linking up with other experts in the community, we can work together in an effort to better help victims and work towards communities that stand together against domestic and sexual violence.

I also wanted to take the time to send an extra special shout-out to the Haven staff in Valdosta, GA for meeting up with me and sharing all the exciting news that has been going on since I moved in 2010 (such as their beautiful new domestic violence shelter and new rape crisis center). I am so honored to call these dedicated and passionate women not only my allies in this field, but also my friends.

-Nicole Adamo