In a previous post, I shared my connection as a salon professional to a national campaign called Cut It Out, Salons Against Domestic Violence. As I was checking out their resource page, at www.cutitout.org, I discovered the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence [CCADV] right here in Wethersfield, Connecticut.
CCADV is the recognized leading voice for victims of domestic violence and those who serve them in the
state. The organization works to change the social conditions that perpetuate domestic violence through policy advocacy, public awareness, technical assistance and training.
As many of you who have followed my blog know, I am a survivor of many forms of abuse and domestic violence. I chronicle my journey in my book Crawling Out, due to be published later this year, in which I share my gut-wrenching battle to live abuse free. Thus, I found myself intrigued by a discussion held the first week of March on the impact that witnessing domestic violence has on children, co-sponsored by CCADV and the Connecticut Office of the Child Advocate.
The discussion featured Dr. Steven Marans, director of the National Center for Children Exposed to Violence and professor of psychiatry, Yale University, as keynoter. Dr. Marans is also a member of the U.S. Attorney General’s National Task Force on Children Exposed to Violence. The roundtable discussion also included state executive directors and commissioners involved with the topic, child advocates, etc.
Before the meeting began, CCADV Executive Director Karen Jarmoc walked over with a warm welcome
and gave me permission to blog whatever I would like about CCADV.
As I prepared myself for some note-taking and waited for the discussion to start, I jotted down all that
the coalition had listed on its marketing board:
- Safety planning
- Crisis intervention
- Safe houses
- Court advocacy
- Counseling support groups
- Children’s programs
- Community education
Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen started the discussion with statistics about child abuse,
and domestic violence that are alarmingly frightening. Dr. Marans continued with statistics that make
domestic violence very real to anyone who was listening. I was overcome by all that I heard:
- The #1 cause of emergency department visits is domestic violence.
- 15.5 million children exposed to domestic violence have adverse childhood experiences.
These statistics took my breath away. It took all of me to maintain my composure. My emotions started to take over; I fought back my tears. For a short while, I felt the doctor and I were the only people in the room and that he spoke directly to me, acknowledging all that I have overcome. A man who didn’t even know me seemed to recognize my battle. The realization of the odds that were against me−and that I have beaten them−was once again placed in front of me by another expert. I often wonder, How did I do this? How did I crawl out?
The two hours just flew by. I left that meeting empowered to do something more to create additional
awareness about this horrific epidemic in America. No one deserves it, it is not your fault, and you’re
NOT alone. If you are a victim of abuse, please go to CCADV’s website www.ctcadv.org for
resources, or if you need help or just someone to talk to for counseling services, support groups and
advocacy services, please call its 24-hour statewide domestic violence hotline at 888.774.2900.
If you or someone you love suffers from any form of abuse, there is help. We need to work together to
spread the word. It’s time to talk. There is no more room for hiding in shame, enduring the cycles of
abuse and living in fear. We need to awaken those around us to the truth about the lasting effects of
domestic violence and child abuse – to the truth about what 1 out of 3 people endure. And to the ability
we all have to make a difference. And, please, lets not teach our children that this way of life is normal.
Help us bring awareness to every household. Please share my website link www.caseymorley.com with all your email contacts−to help those who are too ashamed to talk about it, to help those who don’t even recognize they live in abusive situations, or to help those who need a discreet avenue to find help − to begin their own journey of crawling out. Perhaps one of my treasures or blogs will be just the gentle nudge they need to see things in a new light.
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Post by Casey Morley – I have emerged from a life filled with abuse and chronicle my journey in my my book,Crawling Out, due to be published soon. I hope by sharing my story I can help other victims of domestic violence realize that they too, can start their own journey of crawling out – and that they don’t have to walk alone. I am also the owner of Casey’s Image Consultants, and a Certified M’lis Wellness Consultant offering Lifestyle Change Programs for detoxifying the body. I am dedicated to helping people improve their appearance and overall health from the inside out.
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