Health Department: October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

To get help or resources call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE.  

Learn more: thehotline.org

Health Department: October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Boston Globe: "In memoriam of victims of domestic violence"

"For more than 30 years, advocates for victims of domestic violence have maintained a tragic roll call of intimate partner deaths in Massachusetts. Although this state ranks near the bottom of domestic abuse homicides nationally, each death echoes in an expanding ring of trauma, often involving children. This year, according to Jane Doe Inc., a coalition of organizations working against domestic violence and sexual assault, 13 women and one man were allegedly killed by their partners, two of whom then committed suicide. Another victim was simply associated with a target. At least 23 children are now without a parent.

In a strange way, the list is a testament to the success of Massachusetts gun laws, as most of the victims had not been shot. Nationally, firearms are used in 54 percent of fatal domestic violence cases; in Massachusetts it is closer to 30 percent. Without the swift lethality of guns, some victims have a better chance of surviving or escaping. This state also has a robust network of programs and organizations where targets of abuse can find protection, keeping the numbers relatively low."

Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/12/31/opinion/memoriam-victims-domestic-violence/

Cathleen Liberty, Franklin Health Director, talks with Marcia Szymanski, Executive Director of New Hope, in this episode of The Topic.    https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/12/the-topic-003-marcia-symanski-new-hope.html

The Topic: 003 - Marcia Symanski - New Hope

Candlelight Vigil for Shirley Owen - 12/19/21 (audio)

FM #682 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 682 in the series. 

This shares audio recording of the candlelight vigil in memory of Shirley Owen. The vigil was held on the Franklin Town Common and attended by a couple of thousand neighbors, friends, and members of the Franklin community.

The event ‘master of ceremonies’ was State Representative Jeff Roy.

Link to the GoFundMe for the Owen family is included in the show notes. At the time of the vigil, over $225,000 had been raised.

The recording runs about 33 minutes. Let’s listen to this recording of the candlelight vigil held Dec 19, 2021

** Audio file ->  https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-682-candlelight-vigil-for-shirley-owens-12-19-21

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GoFundMe for Shirley Owen  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/12/gofundme-for-shirley-in-our-hearts.html 

Link to photos of the vigil ->https://photos.app.goo.gl/fhNJYofT7V7AsHqz7

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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.  

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news/

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

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You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

 

NEW HOPE, Inc. CEO Issues Statement On Alleged Domestic Violence Homicide Murder In Franklin, MA

Marcia Szymanski, CEO, New Hope Inc. offer condolences to the family of the Shirley Branco Owen who was murdered on Friday, December 17, 2021. New Hope also is able to offer support to family and friends of Ms. Owen.

In response to yesterday’s alleged domestic violence homicide in Franklin, the police were able to apprehend the suspect, Ms. Owen’s ex-husband, thus there is no danger to the community at-large.  

New Hope, Inc.’s Executive Director and President, Marcia Szymanski, issued a statement to inform the community about services available to them. New Hope, Inc. provides domestic violence services to 41 communities, including Franklin.  New Hope has offices in both Attleboro and Milford to assist survivors of domestic violence with safety planning, obtaining restraining orders, and other legal protections to ensure their safety. These services are free of charge.

New Hope President and CEO, Marcia Szymanski, stated, “We want to inform the public that New Hope has a 24-hour, toll-free hotline available to survivors and witnesses to violence, as well as to concerned family members, friends, co-workers and neighbors who may need support.  Our hotline is 1-800-323-HOPE (4673), and we encourage anyone who may be in need of our services to call and get help.”

New Hope, Inc.’s domestic and sexual violence services include the  24-hour hotline (1-800-323-HOPE), two emergency shelters for survivors fleeing violent homes, counseling services for adults and children, a supervised visitation center where non-custodial parents can visit in a safe supervised setting with their children due to domestic violence and other issues, court-based legal advocacy to help survivors obtain restraining orders, safety planning, an intimate partner abuse education program, education/outreach services.  

New Hope, Inc. is a registered 501 (C) (3) non-profit organization, whose mission is “To create communities free from violence and exploitation.”  For more information, visit www.new-hope.org.  

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Find out more about New Hope and their work. Listen to the recent episode of The Topic with Franklin Health Director Cathleen Liberty and Marcia Szymanski  =>   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/12/the-topic-003-marcia-symanski-new-hope.html

The Topic: 003 - Marcia Szymanski - New Hope

“The Seven Types of Abuse” - Part 4 of the series

Another episode of “The Seven Types of Abuse”. Check it out now ⬇️⬇️. Or go back ⬅️⬅️ and watch the first three episodes.

Video link ->  https://youtu.be/5vdLSb88lq8

All Episodes can also be found on the SAFE Peer to Peer YouTube 📺 channel as well. -> https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrkhxAELvHg6_EtYx0HuNhQ/videos

Shared From Facebook ->    https://www.facebook.com/safecoalitionma/posts/2315275431935983

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month

The Franklin Police Department wants all survivors of domestic, and sexual violence to know that there are resources available to help. We made this short video to talk about it, and suggest the following links if you or someone you know needs assistance. New Hope, Inc. and the National Domestic Violence Hotline are valuable sources of information. 

As always, in an emergency please call 911

Shared from https://www.franklinma.gov/police-department/news/october-national-domestic-violence-awareness-month

Video link = https://youtu.be/rtU3Y4pNwoU

 

 

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Ed Hurley: Five Days of Action for Child Abuse Prevention

Once again, our Y, along with YMCAs throughout Massachusetts and across the country will be sponsoring Five Days of Action for Child Abuse Prevention. From April 22nd to April 26th the Hockomock Area YMCA will share information and resources on how to prevent, recognize and respond to situations that adults may encounter.

Statistics from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reveal that 1 in 10 children in the United States are sexually abused before their 18th birthday. Sadly, in over 90% of the cases reported, this abuse happens by someone the child knows and trusts.

While we are placing a special emphasis on this topic during the month of April, child safety and child protection are our Y’s number one priority every single day of the year.

Think of how many children each one of us sees in a day, and contrast that with the knowledge that 1 in 10 of these young people are being robbed of their innocence. Children are supposed to be the hope for a brighter future. As a society we are all faced with the long-term consequences. Child abuse is happening regardless of age, gender, race, religion or socio-economic class. I ask all of you to join with our YMCA in spreading important awareness around this devastating epidemic.

The national theme for this year’s Five Days of Action is Know. See. Respond. As adults we need to Know more, See better and Respond appropriately to protect kids from sexual abuse.

For the past five years our YMCA is proud to have partnered and collaborated with school systems, municipalities and other human service organizations throughout our service area to help bring awareness, education and training regarding this issue to the forefront. We remain committed to this collaborative cause and our effort to be part of a community based prevention movement. Please join us.

For more information, please contact me at the Hockomock Area YMCA or visit our website www.hockymca.org/child-protection for resources, training and how you can be involved. I encourage you to watch a brief video featuring community leaders and advocates for Know. See. Respond., an initiative adopted at our YMCA.

As responsible adults, we all have the opportunity to create a different path for children and to protect their only childhood. We are on this path together, let’s take a step to clear the way for a child.

Ed Hurley
President and CEO
Hockomock Area YMCA

In the News: Kennedy talks health care; new director at Voices Against Violence

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"Calling the Republican-backed health care bill a piece of “zombie” legislation that will not die, U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy III told the Franklin Chamber of Commerce at Dean College Wednesday that this legislation if passed would have a devastating effect on Massachusetts. 

He said that some of the mandatory protections put into place by the Affordable Care Act will be made optional instead. He estimates that there will be a 20-percent spike in premiums that first year, and that 30 to 32 million people will lose healthcare coverage altogether. 

“Pre-existing condition coverage, they might cover you, they might not,” he said of the repeal vote in the Senate slated to take place in 10 days. “The cost of getting covered for pregnancy could go up about roughly $20,000. Substance use disorder similarly would have about a $20,000 increase.” 

Kennedy, D-4th, mentioned that the new bill will essentially leech from states such as Massachusetts, New York, and California, whom have been investing in statewide healthcare for a number of years, and re-distribute those funds to states that haven’t been saving as much or at all."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required) 
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170920/kennedy-talks-healthcare-at-dean-college

"After a few months on the job, Patricia Hohl finds every day both rewarding and challenging. 

As the new director of Voices Against Violence, a Framingham-based nonprofit that serves victims of sexual abuse and domestic violence, she listens to tough stories each day. Then she and her staff figure out how to help and protect their clients. 

“It sounds like a cliché, but it truly means a lot to me to make a difference in my own community. It’s just something I believe in as a human being,” said Hohl, who took over as director in June. She replaced Mary Gianakis, who led the agency for two decades. 

The goal of the agency is to prevent domestic violence and sexual abuse, and help survivors forge a new life. All services are free and confidential."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required) 
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170920/voices-against-violence-welcomes-new-director

Voices Against Violence, a Framingham-based nonprofit that serves victims of sexual abuse and domestic violence