Family events planned for Domestic Violence Awareness Month

  • Published
  • By Barbara E. Severson-Olson
  • 97th Medical Group family advocacy intervention specialist
ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and the Altus Air Force Base family advocacy office has a number of events available for service members and their families throughout the month.

Domestic violence is a pattern of coercive, controlling behavior that also includes emotional or psychological abuse, sexual abuse or financial abuse. Men exposed to domestic violence as children are almost four times more likely than other men to perpetrate domestic violence as adults; sadly, most domestic violence incidents are never reported.

U.S. Air Force Capt. Kristen Seitz, 97th Medical Group family advocacy officer, said this year's activities are built on the theme, "In just one day, you can help prevent domestic violence."

According to Seitz, there are many ways someone can prevent domestic violence. Most importantly, if you know someone who is a victim of child or intimate partner maltreatment, call family advocacy at 580-481-5376 to report it. If you are an adult victim of intimate partner maltreatment, restricted reporting may be an option; restricted reporting allows the victim to receive advocacy, counseling and other services without involving the sponsor's unit or triggering an investigation.

Intervention is just one way to break the cycle, stated Seitz, who explained another way is to prevent abuse from occurring through strengthening the family. Many children who witnessed abuse don't want to repeat the pattern as adults, but they do not feel they have the tools to do so. "Too often we focus on what people are doing wrong and we don't focus enough on building on the strengths the family has," said Seitz.

"Our goal in planning this month's activities is to offer services for those who need want to improve their ability to communicate with their intimate partner or who want to learn how to manage their anger or stress better," said Seitz. "However, we also want to emphasize that just spending time together as a family, can help prevent abuse. The family advocacy program has developed a calendar of events as a fun, inexpensive activity that families can do every day such as taking a walk around the Altus reservoir or playing their favorite card game together."

Two activities are being held for the first time on Altus AFB. The youth center will collect old cell phones, toiletries and diapers for donation to the Southwest Oklahoma Community Action Group ACMI House. There will also be a "Pizza and a Movie" night Oct. 11 at the Airman Resilience Center hosted by the 97th Force Support Squadron, family advocacy and the Armed Services YMCA, and will show the video "Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage." The video features Mark Gungor, a nationally recognized speaker known for his hilarious, practical, no-holds barred approach to strengthening relationships. "Other bases have had great success with this video and we're excited to offer it here," said Seitz.

To sign up for any activity or to get more information about other events during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, call the family advocacy program at 580-481-5376. To receive help related to domestic violence, call the family advocacy program or call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE, or by visiting http://www.TheHotline.org.