Submitted by the Lyceum Committee at First Parish on the Common
The First Parish Lyceum at 9:30 am on Sunday, January 12, will focus on the Domestic Violence Service Network (DVSN) in an unusual opportunity to hear about the work DVSN performs in coordination with a network of local police departments.
Jacquelin Apsler, DVSN’s executive director, will talk about the ways DVSN can be helpful to clients in abusive situations and Lt. Jim Graham of the Bedford Police Department will explain how the Bedford Police work with the courts and other police departments to help break the cycle of abuse, connect families with community resources, assess risk, and help victims plan for safety. DVSN advocates, Carol Amick and Richard Gauthier will also talk about what they do, and how insidious this problem is in our suburban world.
The public is invited to learn how to help eliminate the shame of domestic abuse by making it a topic accessible and safe to examine.
First Parish in Bedford is a Unitarian Universalist Congregation that was gathered in 1729. Its historic meeting house on Bedford Common was built in 1816 and is fully accessible using the Elm Street entrance. For additional information, visit www.uubedford.org or call 781-275-7994.
An additional note from Jacquelin Apsler, Executive Director of Domestic Violence Services Network, Inc.
Winter has set in. Anticipation of the Super Bowl is ramping up. And, staying warm is a priority for us all. Creating a sense of “home” that is cozy and snug is a prime concern for getting through the winter. But, for many of our friends and neighbors, home is the scariest place to be. The atmosphere is tense. Family gatherings are terrifying. Cold weather means more “togetherness” which leads to more opportunity for abuse. Individuals and families living with abuse feel deep shame, debilitating isolation, and paralyzing fear. They despair that no one will believe them, and no one can help them.
In Bedford, in the last year, DVSN followed up on 65 police-involved domestic violence incidents and reached out to nearly 100 Bedford families living with domestic abuse. Within the past 12 months, Bedford Police made 12 arrests due to domestic violence. And, currently, there are 15 active restraining orders on file at the Bedford Police Station.
There are some frightening statistics on the DVSN website:
- 1 in 4 women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime;
- 1 in 5 high school students report being physically and/or sexually abused by a dating partner;
- Witnessing domestic abuse has devastating effects on the social, emotional, and cognitive development of children;
- Estimates of elder abuse range up to 10% with at least 5 million elders experiencing financial exploitation and abuse each year by someone they depend on for care and protection.
But the DVSN website also offers hope, and information about the services that they offer.
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