October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The six member agencies of the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence are planning a variety of statewide events to raise public awareness about the consequences of interpersonal violence on our communities.

The theme of this year's awareness campaign is "Domestic Violence -It is your Business" and a special focus will be placed on the harmful effects of family violence on the development and well being of children.

Through public service announcements, rallies, posters, newspaper articles and community events, domestic violence agencies want to convey two important message to the public:

• Domestic violence has long lasting and detrimental effects on children.
  
• We (the community at large) can end domestic violence and that we are all responsible for helping to end it.