An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Family Advocacy offers assistance to prevent domestic violence

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Amber R. Kelly-Herard
  • 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Il --  To help combat domestic violence, the Scott Air Force Base Family Advocacy team is working to offer classes and assistance to help prevent or help people cope with domestic violence.

Domestic violence can include threats, pushing, punching, slapping, choking, sexual assaults and assaults with weapons.

It can occur in all demographics, including the military.

Domestic violence can happen to anyone regardless of age, race, religion and education and income levels. Although 95 percent of domestic violence victims are women, men can also be mistreated.

"Part of our mission is enhancing mission readiness and domestic violence detracts from family readiness, as well as degrades the family structure," said Enrique Howell, 375th Medical Operations Squadron Family Advocacy outreach manager. "It's a topic that most do not want to discuss, but we must discuss it so that we can eliminate it."

"We spend much of our time and effort in the prevention of domestic violence," he said.
Domestic violence cases mostly go unreported. All Department of Defense personnel are required to report suspected domestic violence cases. Every agency on base also has ways of reporting domestic violence cases anonymously.

All victims may show feelings of guilt, depression, lack of self-esteem, frequent illnesses, poor personal hygiene, regression in developmental tasks, isolation or excessive social involvement to avoid home. People who initiate domestic violence can seem normal in other relationships.

In addition to reporting domestic violence, another way to help a victim of domestic violence is to develop a safety plan which consists of a safe place to go when their spouse becomes abusive and a suitcase with clothes, personal items, money, social security cards, bank books, the children's birth certificates and school records and other important documents.

The Family Advocacy office offers classes and counseling to prevent or help cope with domestic violence and is hosting several events during October to spread awareness.
Throughout the month of October there will be a resource display at the Library and a Silent Witness display at Scott Credit Union.

Classes offered include:
Oct. 19: Anger Management Seminar at the Mental Health Conference Room from 9:30-11 a.m.

Oct. 19: How to Avoid Marrying a Jerk/Jerkette at Chapel 1 annex from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Oct. 26: "Survivors Speak Out" Seminar at the Scott Club from 7:30-9 a.m.

For more information, contact Family Advocacy at 256-7203. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is (800) 733-SAFE (7233).