By Spc. Elizabeth Gorenc
Camp Atterbury Public Affairs
CAMP ATTERBURY, Ind. - October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and the military is speaking up to bring attention to the problem. The message the military hopes to spread is that when Soldiers or family members are faced with dire situations involving abuse, they need to know it is okay to report it and they can receive help.
Paul Jones, a behavioral health specialist and victim advocate at Camp Atterbury, said Camp Atterbury is able to help people encountering domestic violence.
"We are here to nurture and help," he said.
Jones said that three main steps are taken once a Soldier or family member reports a domestic violence encounter: ensure medical issues are taken care off, discuss paths to recovery with the person, and convince the person to do something about his or her situation.
"It is our obligation to take care of people," said Jones.
As part of taking care of survivors of domestic abuse, Jones said that the family advocates at Camp Atterbury do everything they can to accommodate needs and facilitate the safety of Soldiers or families in need.
Jones said that if necessary he can help people find services from their home state, or provide them everything from housing to food stamps to rehabilitation programs in Indiana.
"A lot of people are scared to lose everything by reporting violence," said Jones. "Fear, their kids, finances, or a history of abuse prevents people from reporting incidents. We want people to know that we are here to help them work through hard times."
Jones said domestic violence that occurs within families extends past the people involved in the incident. He said that children who witness violence learn that it is an okay and acceptable way of treating others or being treated.
"We want to encourage people to break the chain," he said.
Jones said that the main way to prevent domestic violence or help people in possible harm is to be aware.
"We have to be proactive and look for red flags in each other," he said. "We are here to and need to stand up for people. We need to leave no person or Soldier behind, just like it says in the Warrior Ethos."
In addition to talking to people at the behavioral health center at Camp Atterbury, Soldiers, families and civilian employees of Camp Atterbury can turn to the chaplains and family life consultants here.
Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Rick Ebb, a chaplain at Camp Atterbury said that a chaplain is a safe person to come to in order to help a person recognize the resources they need to seek help.
"Our number one priority is the safety of the Soldier and his or her family," said Ebb. "Every case is unique and there is no one-size-fits-all answer and we will do everything we can to find the answer that works."
"We have a network of resources within the military designed specifically for helping Soldiers," he added.
Because of the thin line between religious confessions and confessions concerning safety, the chaplain may call upon people within the resource network, such as behavioral health specialists, like Jones, or family life consultants at Camp Atterbury for assistance in providing aid and resources to the Soldier or family member.
Natalie Flemming, a family services consultant at Camp Atterbury, said that once involved in a domestic violence case, her role encases contacting further assistance.
"I will call people over at behavioral health if needed, but I will also work to find safe shelters, counseling, set up referrals for apartments and organizations to find employment."
"[People] need to know that any resources they need, we have them and if we don't, we will do what we can to find them" she added.
If Soldiers or family members want to seek help outside of Camp Atterbury, the local shelter for domestic violence survivors, Turning Point, is located in Columbus and it serves seven local counties.
Additionally, Soldiers or families can access the National Domestic Violence Hotline Web site at www.ndvh.org or call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), or visit www.militaryonesource.com or call 1-800-342-9647.
Military OneSource is a 24-hour, 7-days-a-week, toll-free information and referral telephone service available worldwide to active duty, Reserve, and National Guard military members and their families. When calling about domestic abuse, the program will connect you to a specially trained victim advocate who will help you understand your options and plan how to keep you and your children safe.