Domestic Violence Awareness Month & Purple Day
The month of October is Domestic Violence Awareness month and the Palm Beach County Youth Services Department is proud to join the community in raising awareness. Palm Beach County Commissioner Mack Bernard sponsored the proclamation identifying October as Domestic Violence (DV) Awareness Month in Palm Beach County. While domestic violence can happen in any relationship – regardless of religion, race or ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or other factors – the vast majority of victims who report violence are women abused by male partners or ex-partners.
The Palm Beach County Domestic Violence Coordinated Community Response (DV CCR) held the Opening Ceremony on October 1st at the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office's (PBSO) training facility in West Palm Beach. The ceremony featured a screening of Ret. Lt. Mark Wynn's documentary “This is Where I Learned Not to Sleep" and was followed by a panel discussion by Shaundelyn Emerson of the YWCA's (Young Women Christian Association) Harmony House, Det. Vance Harper of PBSO, and Dr. Heidi Schaeffer of Florida Atlantic University.
Members of the DV CCR include (among many others) the Youth Services Department, Birth to 22, PBC Public Safety Department Victim Services Division, PBSO, and the two DV shelters in Palm Beach County (AVDA and YWCA's Harmony House).
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uth Services also participated in #PurpleDay on October 18th. This social media campaign was created by YWCA to promote recognition of DV Awareness Month. In solidarity with survivors and as a reminder that support is available, the Palm Beach County Historic Courthouse and Four Points building (YSD Office) were illuminated in purple throughout the month of October.
If you or someone you know needs support, please contact:
• Palm Beach County Victim Services: 561-833-7273
• Family Violence Intervention Program: 561-355-2678
As a community, Palm Beach County stands united in the fight against domestic violence, and remains dedicated to raising awareness and offering hope and healing to survivors.
For more information about Domestic Violence Awareness Month activities or available resources, visit https://discover.pbc.gov/publicsafety/victimservices/Pages/default.aspx.