October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a time dedicated to acknowledging the victims and increasing awareness regarding the devastating impact of domestic violence.
Stephanie Boaz from Where New Beginnings Start in Princeton says domestic violence can affect women and men. She says statistics show that 1 out of 4 women and 1 out of 9 men are victims of domestic violence.
Typically, victims of domestic violence seek legal recourse for protection, but Boaz says that the abuse is likely to persist in the future.
According to Boaz, Kentucky has now implemented statutes for batterers.
And she notes what happens in the home can affect children’s behavior. Boaz says victims are also hesitant to reach out for help due to feeling ashamed, but emphasizes there are programs out there to provide assistance like Sanctuary, Inc. in Hopkinsville.
She also offers programs to help victims as well as those with anger issues.
She says people make mistakes but they need to disengage and step away when anger arises.
For more information, call (270) 625-8211, message the Where New Beginnings Start Facebook page, or email wherenewbeginningsstart@gmail.com. Boaz says don’t hesitate to ask for help because we all need assistance at times.
