Even those not physically battered suffer: “Others in the household are also victims of domestic violence, suffering emotional scars that often are permanent,” while living in an abusive atmosphere, Procter noted.Domestic Violence Awareness Month was founded in October 1997.“I’ve been on the Interface board for many years but when I started, I had never been to a women’s shelter,” said Barringer. “What has evolved through the years are the transitional living homes,” where women and their children released from shelters can live while independent living skills and job training can be completed in a safe environment.Interface now has five such transitional living homes throughout Ventura County, including one located in Santa Paula co-funded by Soroptimist International of Santa Paula.“On behalf of all women and children I thank you for the city’s proclamation,” noted Collier.Gonzales, director of the Santa Paula transitional living program who works directly with the Interface clients, told the council that “it means so much to all the families,” to have a safe place to live and the opportunities offered through the program.“Domestic violence is a big problem, not just in our community but all over,” said Gonzales.
Council recognizes October Domestic Violence Awareness Month
October 09, 2002
Santa Paula News
Santa Paula has been at the forefront of fighting domestic violence, and the City Council acknowledged the 5th annual Domestic Violence Awareness Month with a special proclamation presented at the Sept. 16th meeting.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesSanta Paula has been at the forefront of fighting domestic violence, and the City Council acknowledged the 5th annual Domestic Violence Awareness Month with a special proclamation presented at the Sept. 16th meeting.Councilman John Procter presented the proclamation to Cathy Barringer of Santa Paula, former President of the Board of Directors of Interface Children, Family Services, Maria Collier and Gloria Gonzales, both Interface staffers.Procter noted that many American homes are “tainted by violence and abuse,” and that domestic violence is the “single largest cause of injury to women,” regardless of their backgrounds or status.Statewide, there were 186,000 domestic violence reports in 2001, 666 of them from Ventura County. Nationally, over 6-million incidents of domestic violence were reported.The U.S. Department of Labor has released reports on the effects of domestic violence on the workplace and the high number of women who lose their jobs due to domestic violence. About one-half of women seeking shelter to escape domestic violence are turned away due to a lack of facilities.
