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