This week welcomed October and National Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM). For many, you may stop reading right here, simply because you may think, “this issue does not pertain to me.” The truth is, it does pertain to you. Why? Because you are the friend, partner, brother, sister, mother, father, grandparent, co-worker, neighbor of someone who is a victim of domestic violence. One in four women and one in nine men will be the victim of domestic violence at some point in their lifetime, and, on average, three women are killed every day at the hands of a current or former intimate partner.

Domestic violence is one of society’s largest problems and it hides in plain sight. DVAM is an opportunity to deepen our understanding of these issues and share resources. Jana’s Campaign is a Hays-based national education and violence prevention organization with the single mission of reducing gender and relationship violence. This month, we are asking our community to learn 5 new things about domestic violence and share that information with those in your community.

Domestic violence is a serious issue in our country, state, and community. The only way we can create a culture that does not accept violence, is to become educated and then talk about it. We encourage you to get comfortable talking about the uncomfortable. You don’t have to be an expert to make a difference – you just have to be aware of the factors that can contribute to violence.

Jana’s Campaign has pledged to provide information on our social media accounts about the multiple forms domestic violence can take and the severity of the issue throughout the month of October. Please follow Jana’s Campaign on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to learn more.

In honor of the late Hays resident Jana Mackey and other victims and survivors of gender and relationship violence, Jana’s Campaign delivers comprehensive educational programming that prevents domestic and dating violence, sexual violence and stalking.

Kaiti Dinges
Executive Director of Jana’s Campaign