Every year, more than 3 million children witness domestic violence in their homes. Many of those children (30%-60%) become a victim of the abuse themselves. Without help, girls who witness and experience domestic violence as children are more vulnerable to abuse as teens and adults. Without help, boys who witness and experience domestic violence are far more likely to become abusers of their own partners and children as adults, thus continuing the cycle of violence in the next generation.
Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services seeks to not only help adult victims and survivors of domestic violence, but children also. The abuse may be of primary form; direct verbal, physical, or sexual abuse, or secondary; witnessing abuse and living in a violent household. To help aid child sufferers of domestic violence we provide court advocacy and assistance in obtaining Orders of Protection, individual counseling and children’s support group, safe-shelter for the family, and sexual assault hospital accompaniment for victims 13 and older.
All forms of violence continue to be a huge social problem burdening our community, but with the workers, donors, and volunteers of the various organizations working to put a stop to it, we can make a difference. In 1983 Congress declared April “National Child Abuse Prevention Month.” This month, please help give those a voice who do not have one. Donate or give your time to a local organization striving to protect and heal the children of our community, for there are still far too many children who live in fear.
Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Services have been serving Rutherford and Cannon Counties for over 25 years and continue to provide a wide array of free services to aid victims of domestic and sexual violence in the most effective way possible.
Need Help?
Call (615) 896-7377 or email volunteer@dvpshelter.org.
Community Events To Raise Awareness and Show Your Support:
Pin Wheel Garden Child
Juvenile Courthouse
April 9th, 11:30 am
1720 South Church Street, Murfreesboro
Abuse Prevention Month Ceremony
April 11th, 1:00pm – 2:00pm
Department of Children Services
434 Jayhawk Court, Murfreesboro
Sexual Assault Awareness Event
Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital
April 12th, 9:00am – 1:00pm (walk at 10am)
Medical Center Pkwy, DePaul Building, Murfreesboro
