Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Weston Today photos

A proclamation by First Selectwoman Samantha Nestor on Thursday afternoon declared October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, recognizing work done by survivors, domestic violence programs, and victim service providers.

Members of the Weston Police and Human Services departments attended, along with Erica Forti, superintendent of Weston public schools. Nikkia Ellis, manager of outreach at the Domestic Violence Crisis Center spoke about the organization’s work.

The Center provides support for those experiencing domestic violence, including a hotline at (203) 588-9097. The services are free, confidential, multilingual and multicultural. Help is also available from the state’s Safe Connect Hotline at (888) 774-2900.

The first selectwoman’s proclamation notes that, in Connecticut, more than a third of women and more than a third of men experience intimate partner violence or sexual assault in their lifetimes.

It also notes that growing up in a home with domestic violence is a strong predictor of becoming a victim or an abuser as an adult, and that education and raising public awareness is critical to breaking generational cycles of abuse.

Ms. Ellis speaking