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A Friend's House helps domestic violence victims
(by Kristy Zurbrick, Madison Editor - October 10, 2012)
Every 12 seconds, a woman is beaten by her partner.
Domestic violence is the No. 1 cause of emergency room visits by women.
Fifty-two percent of female murder victims are killed by their partners.
The national statistics for domestic violence are sobering. A Friend’s House, Madison County’s domestic violence shelter, wants victims to know they have a safe place and caring people to turn to for support.
In October, Domestic Violence Awareness Month, A Friend’s House is launching a new support group for victims of domestic violence. Friends Helping Friends will meet from 7 to 8 p.m. on the third Monday of each month at Lifepointe Family Center, 109 S. Main St., London. The first meeting is Oct. 15. Laura Brining, court and community advocate for A Friend's House, will lead the group.
“Working with the courts and the prosecutor’s office, I’ve found that a lot of victims think they are alone in this,” said Brining, herself a domestic violence survivor. “It’s important to let them know they are not alone.”
The support group will provide a confi-dential setting in which victims can help one another on their journey to healing, while learning about the following:
• The effects of domestic violence on children
• Tools to increase self-esteem
• Developing safety plans
• Developing healthy relationships
• Setting boundaries in all relationships
“We’ve already had lots of calls from people who want to join the group,” Brining said, noting that the group is open to male and female victims. “Domestic violence is not a racial issue; it’s not a gender issue. It’s a human issue.”
The 3rd annual A Friend’s House candlelight vigil to acknowledge survivors and individuals lost to domestic violence is set for 7 p.m. Oct. 24 at Cowling Park, at the corner of North Main Street and Park Avenue in London. The public is invited to attend.
Also planned this month is a fund-raiser set for Oct. 18 to will benefit the services A Friend’s House provides, which, in addition to the support group, include a safe, confidential place for victims to stay, legal aid referrals, support for court appointments, assistance with finding safe, stable housing, job search help, and a 24-hour crisis line.
The fund-raiser, “Cocktails With Friends,” will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. at Rothwell’s Neighborhood Restaurant. Cocktails will be available and appetizers will be provided. A raffle drawing will take place at 8. (You need not be present to win.) Raffle tickets are $5 each or five for $20. Prizes include a Keurig single serve coffee brewer, an overnight stay at Indiana Casino, a facial at the Retreat Salon & Day Spa, and over 20 gift baskets and other items.
For more information about the support group, candlelight vigil, fund-raiser or services provided by A Friend’s House, call (740) 852-7761, which also serves as the organization’s 24-hour crisis line.
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