Combat Center brings in Domestic Violence Awareness Month

TWENTYNINE PALMS, CA, UNITED STATES

09.23.2014

Courtesy Story

Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center

By Pfc. Medina Ayala-Lo
Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - October marks the month of Domestic Violence Awareness and Marine Corps Community Services, Marine and Family Programs will be partnering with various organizations aboard the base to raise awareness and educate people on healthy relationships.

“Our initiative is to educate all the active-duty Marines, sailors, family members and civilians on what safe relationships look like,” said Michele Godfrey, Prevention and Education Specialist, Behavioral Health Branch. “We are targeting all the services on our installation by offering workshops, distributing information and resources so that people will understand what a safe relationship is.”

Family violence, whether it’s domestic abuse or child abuse, is directly related to stressors, according to Godfrey. An important key to preventing domestic violence is knowing how to reduce and handle stress.

“It’s important that we educate every one on the signs,” Godfrey said. “We give them resources and tools, a lot of the classes offer ways to reduce your stress.”

During October, BHP will work with the Single Marine Program, the Marine Corps Communication-Electronics School and partner up with the Lifelong Learning Library to release information pertaining to domestic violence.

“We have a reading list that we’re encouraging people to read about, whether you’re a victim, whether you want to help someone who may be a victim of domestic violence,” Godfrey said.

Additional events taking place aboard the Combat Center in support of Domestic Violence Awareness Month include, a motorcycle ride, lunch and learns at the protestant chapel, weekly-healthy relationship discussions at MCCES and a married and loving it class.

“We know we’re not the mission,” Godfrey said. “But we can help them meet the mission by giving them tools and resources to take care of their families, take care of themselves.”

Assuring that people know they should feel safe with the relationships in their lives is of utmost importance. The BHP hopes to get that message across.

“We want to bring awareness to domestic violence and ultimately remind everyone that domestic violence goes against the Corps values,” Godfrey said.

For more information on Domestic Violence Awareness Month, contact 830-6345. If someone needs help they are encouraged to contact the Victim Advocates at 760-362-9837.

• Date Taken: 09.23.2014
• Date Posted: 09.25.2014 11:46
• Story ID: 143258
• Location: TWENTYNINE PALMS, CA, US