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Also | Combating Abuse | Domestic violence affects the entire family The greatest and most dangerous form of terrorism happens to people we know and love. It is happening to our mothers, our sisters, our daughters and our friends. It is happening to women of all ages, educational backgrounds, professions, races and ethnic groups. And it happens every day. I am talking about the millions of women in our country who are terrorized at home by the ones they love the most, the millions of women who live in fear of their husbands’ or boyfriends’ anger, of their criticism, their jealousy, their control and, of course, their ability to injure. Domestic violence continues to be the No. 1 reason women in the United States between the ages of 18 and 45 are hurt. According to the Department of Justice, at least half of all murders against women are committed by their husbands or boyfriends. The lifetime risk for an American woman to be sexually assaulted is one in four. And every day women are stalked by ex-husbands and boyfriends. We also know that 50% of the time when mom is being abused, so are her children, thus perpetuating this cycle. Domestic violence is the most lethal and far-reaching form of terrorism in our country. And yet, this form of violence often goes unnoticed. Medical doctors are identifying only one in 25 female patients who are being hurt. Parents and teachers do not know that one in three teenagers is involved in dating violence. Our nation has not appreciated the fact that 3,000 to 4,000 women are murdered by their intimate partners every year. Calls to action have met with variable success. How can we be spending billions of dollars on homeland security and yet have so many of our wives and mothers suffering and dying every day? It seems that the nation does not understand the scope of the problem and does not believe that working together can make a difference. You can be proud that Orange County is one of the most progressive counties nationwide. The Orange County Family Violence Council was formed more than a decade ago, bringing all local agencies relating to domestic violence together to work on a fresh approach. These agencies included the district attorney’s office, the courts, law enforcement, probation, victim witness advocates, child protection services, the battered women’s shelters and many others. They asked themselves, “How can we improve our response and services to battered women?” They found several answers, and the resulting changes have been noteworthy. Orange County now has two courts dedicated to domestic violence. Law enforcement actively educates police officers about appropriate response. The DA’s office has high conviction rates and has organized a domestic violence death review team, one of the few in the country. Batterer’s treatment programs have blossomed with the help of the courts and shelters. The UCI School of Medicine teaches medical students how to screen for abuse and participates in various programs throughout the county. And our shelters Women’s Transitional Living Center in north Orange County, Human Options and Interval House in central Orange County, and Laura’s House in south Orange County assist women every day and are leaders in community and school education. However, none of these services can be effective unless individuals open their eyes and see the problem. Make it your concern if your neighbor has bruises, if you hear serious fighting, or if you are worried about a co-worker. Teach your children that violence is never an appropriate response and has no place in a loving relationship. Insist that your schools and doctors are addressing this issue. Ask for help if you are frightened or are afraid for a loved one. Know that you are not alone. Together, we have a chance to win the most important war on terror. Dr. Julianne Toohey is an OB/GYN with UCI Medical Center, Orange County’s only university hospital, which has been named one of the nation’s best hospitals for gynecology by U.S. News & World Report. Information: www.ucihealth.com or 714.456.2911. Combating Abuse If you or a loved one is being abused, help is a phone call away. Human Options 949.854.3554. Emergency shelter for abused women in central and south Orange County Women’s Transitional Living Center 714.992.1931 Emergency shelter for abused women, located in north Orange County |
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