Abuse Victims Seek Assistance From DARCC
Abuse victims seek assistance from DARCC Friday, October 20, 2006 By KEVIN LECHISKI Staff Writer Left bruised and bloodied, "Diane" said the time had come to finally escape the treachery and seek help. The 43-year-old Diane had temporarily returned to her mother's Warren County home in January from the West Coast to recuperate from an illness. Upon returning home, Diane said she encountered a very abusive younger brother who resented her presence there, to the point of continually being verbally abusive, threatening and ultimately physically attacking her in July. Scared for safety and in need of shelter and emotional support, Diane knew the time had come to take action. Diane reported the incident to the police and a restraining order has been since issued. The matter is expected to appear before a county municipal court in the near future. Soon after the July incident, she was put in contact with the Belvidere-based Domestic Abuse and Rape Crisis Center (DARCC), which she said provided her a temporary safe shelter along with much other invaluable assistance. With October designated at national Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Diane said she believes now is the best time for her to share experience so that other victims of domestic violence know there are organizations like DARCC where they can turn to for help. Domestic violence, especially violence against women, continues to be a major problem in the U.S. One in four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime. At least once every 15 seconds a woman is battered. DARCC Community Education Director Sheila Garry Avery said when domestic violence victims decide to share their experiences with others it increases public awareness and hopefully inspires other victims to seek help. Incorporated in 1980, DARCC provides a full range of services for domestic violence and sexual assault victims and their families including: 24-hour hotline; individual counseling and support group; shelter program for women and their children; case management; legal advocacy; court and hospital accompaniment; information and referral services; professional training; and community education. During 2004, DARCC served more than 800 clients from domestic violence-related issues, which is a large number for a mostly rural area. Despite the large number of clients DARCC serves each year, Garry Avery said there are still large numbers of victims who have yet to come forward. Garry Avery said there are numerous variables that can hinder a victim of domestic violence from seeking help. "There can be a lot of fear in coming forward," she said. "A lot of times a victim will be in the process of leaving, but there can be many factors causing them to stay, such as economic and housing factors, the effects on their children, religious convictions about separation or divorce and afraid of being alone." Garry Avery also noticed the critical importance of pursuing counseling for batterers, who many times had also been victims of domestic violence. Counseling can help break a chain of violence that often becomes inter-generational in families. Garry Avery said she hopes Domestic Violence Awareness Month serves as a reminder to the public of the continuing societal problem of domestic violence, and that resources are available for victims to address the many factors often cause them not to come forward. "It's important that people are aware that there's help on a variety of levels and people don't have to be afraid to come forward because services at DARCC are confidential, free and available around the clock." For more information about the Domestic Abuse and Rape Crisis Center, call (908) 453-4121 or visit the Web site, www.besafenj.org. http://www.nj.com/news/warrenreporter/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1161317590179460.xml&coll=15