Embrace is sponsoring a full-day workshop on Tuesday, November 29 for faith leaders and advocates to address how to better support victims of domestic and sexual violence in our community. The program, which will be facilitated by national speakers from the Safe Havens Interfaith Partnership Against Domestic Violence, will focus on strengthening partnerships between community providers and faith communities.
“I urge all my Brother and Sister Faith Leaders to attend this presentation. It is a wonderful opportunity for us to learn from these nationally recognized leaders, strategies for supporting victims, and leading the Faith Community in fighting the scourge of domestic violence and sexual assault, while providing a healing ministry,” says Pastor David Willingham.
Abuse can affect anyone regardless of age, race, class, ethnicity, sexual orientation, first language, or faith. One in 3 women and 1 in 5 men have experienced some form of physical or sexual violence or stalking at the hands of an intimate partner.
What does faith have to do with domestic violence or sexual assault? A study of older adults found that "respondents, especially minorities, often indicated that their ‘first stop’ would be a member of the clergy if they were to discuss their [abuse] with anyone." However, faith leaders do not always feel prepared to respond. To make matters worse, sometimes abusers use faith as a weapon against a victim. Faith leaders are uniquely placed to reach out to victims and help direct them to services and safety, as long as they have the right knowledge and skills to do so.
Safe Havens Interfaith Partnership Against Domestic Violence has been awarded funding by the Office on Violence Against Women to provide these trainings throughout the United States. For more information about Safe Havens’ work, please visit their website at www.interfaithpartners.org/rural.
The training is free and lunch will be provided. Carpooling from Washburn County to Ladysmith is available. Please contact Brittny Olson to arrange.
For more information and to register contact Brittny Olson by November 25 at brittny@embracewi.org or call 715-635-5245.
- EVENT DATE: Tuesday, November 29, 2016
- EVENT TIME: 8a-5p
- LOCATION: Indianhead Community Action Agency, 1000 College Ave W, Ladysmith
- COST: Free
This project is supported by Grant No. 2014-TA-AX-K018, awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women.
Last Update: Nov 07, 2016 11:29 am CST
