Partnership for Families, Children and Adults and other community leaders recognized October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month Oct. 6 at the Hamilton County/Chattanooga Courts Building during a proclamation ceremony.
At the ceremony, the city of Chattanooga, the Family Justice Center, Hamilton County and the Partnership launched a monthlong domestic violence awareness campaign.
The ceremony paid tribute to the victims and survivors of domestic violence and provided resources aimed at preventing domestic violence and supporting those affected.
“This ceremony exemplifies the community collaboration and advocacy needed to address this urgent issue in our city and nation,” said Partnership CEO Kevin Hyde. “Together, we’re not only shedding light on the severity of domestic violence but also calling for everyone in our community to be proactive in identifying and working to stop it.”
Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly and County Mayor Weston Wamp spoke alongside Hyde at the ceremony and read the proclamation.
Ranked 10th highest in the nation, Tennessee saw 69,385 domestic violence offenses in 2020. In August 2022 alone, Chattanooga had 215 incidents involving domestic violence, the Chattadata website reports.
Children under 18 account for almost 10% of all domestic violence cases and one in three women and one in four men have experienced intimate partner violence.
Partnership’s Victim Support Services offers several programs to help and protect victims of domestic violence. Critical services include the overnight Domestic Violence Shelter for victims of domestic violence, forensic medical exams for sexual assault victims and a 24-hour crisis hotline.
In the last year, Partnership’s emergency shelter provided 13,162 nights of refuge and responded to 2,229 crisis hotline calls.
Any individual facing current or potential domestic violence may contact Partnership’s hotline at 423 755-2700 to access shelter and support.
Source: Partnership for Families, Children and Adults