Executive Director's Greeting

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S GREETING

By Kathryn O'Hare, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Women's Center of Rhode Island

Recently, we have all experienced the trauma of violence and every citizen in this great nation has been struck with s uch a heavy, traumatic blow to their hearts. The effects of September 11th did not just strike NYC, or Washington, DC or Pennsylvania, this act of terrorism struck all of humanity. It tore at our very beings -- bodies, minds and souls.

We all remember the moment it happened. We remember where we were. We remember the sudden shock, the disbelief, the feelings of helplessness, the tremendous sadness, and extreme fear.

We may still, and for good reason, experience the anxiety of not knowing how or when some other attack will happen again, and we may continue, for a very long time, to feel depressed and traumatized, as we remember and relive those terrible days, and worry about the days ahead. Indeed we were all victims of domestic violence right here at home in our own nation, our own safe haven called the United States of America.

This is what it is like to be a victim of domestic violence, except imagine having the terrorist in your own home, or sitting beside you at school, or in the same car when you are out dating. This is what it feels like for our victims who have a crime perpetrated in their very own homes, in front of their own children, or when they are out on a date.

This is what we deal with each and every day at the Women's Center of RI.

We are a domestic violence shelter, and we deal with victims in immediate crisis. Either they make a call themselves, or have a relative or friend call, or we receive calls from a local hospital, or a state DHS office, or from local or state police who have just responded to a 911 call from a victim of abuse.

And the victims' suffering, just as yours from the September 11th events, will not go away easily. Their suffering and pain is very real. Some come to our safe house with serious physical bodily injuries, others suffer from verbal attacks, abusive language, threats, and fear . . . and they have reason to worry about what the days ahead will bring, because their perpetrators are still lurking, still waiting, still very capable of hurting them again and again and again. And, just as we are experiencing nationally from the terrorist attack, the violence causes a cycle of long-term effects.

These women (because more than 90% of the time, men are the perpetrators of abuse) are not the only victims. They bring along children, from newborns to young adults, who are the silent victims - those who watch behind doorways and in the shadows, and oftentimes these children are victims of physical and emotional abuse as well.

Domestic violence is a crime and perpetrators will face criminal charges. Abuse takes many forms: harassment, stalking, threats, sexual assault, child abuse, verbal abuse, dating assault, physical and emotional abuse, and even death.

Last year in America, more than 3 women each day are killed by an intimate partner. During 1990 to 1999, here in Rhode Island, 59 deaths were attributed to domestic violence, and in 1999 alone, Rhode Island had 9 deaths due to domestic violence. In fact, more than 30% of police responses are for calls from domestic violence incidences.

We at the Women's Center of RI take the issue of domestic violence seriously. We are committed to offering safe refuge for women and their children, providing secure shelter, food, personal care products and clothing, as well as offering residential, child, and court advocacy services. We offer mental health counseling, expressive arts therapy, and special enrichment programs for children. We also assist throughout a woman's transition back into society.

Our community outreach program is strong, offering information, seminars, support groups and supportive materials to community and faith groups, businesses, to high schools and college campuses. Our confidential Help-Line number, 401-861-2760, is available 24-hours-a-day, /7 days-a-week.

If there is just one important message we must get across, this is it:
If you are aware of someone who is suffering or afraid, if you even hear of threats of violence against another, don't look the other way. You can help. You can let others know there is a confidential number they can call for help. Seek the help of an advocate you can trust. But don't just walk away.

Because Domestic Violence: IT IS YOUR BUSINESS.