Who Suffers at the Hands of Domestic Violence? | For Colored Gurls

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. It?s observed to bring awareness to an issue that effects us all in a staggering way. This observance is an opportunity for domestic violence organizations to connect with the community through significant outreach and awareness raising events. Learn more at www.ncdav.org.

By Rhachelle Nicol?

My work as a caseworker was to ensure the safety of children and assist parents with accessing services for treatment to ultimately reunite families together. What I realized early on was that domestic violence did not just affect the children and those in the relationship, but also family members, schools and communities at large.

In some cases, it was history repeating itself, a generational curse that was manifesting itself in the lives of those who had witnessed the abuse as children. Families were estranged because of the vicious cycle that plagued them. Grandparents unable to prevent their grandchildren from being placed in foster homes because of a record revealing their own history of abuse, some victims, some perpetrators. Informing a grandparent that they would not be able to get their grandchildren would uncover wounds that had yet to be healed.

During the meetings, the request for family support to be present was important, but to my surprise, rarely occurred. Family members had become insensitive, unconcerned or just preoccupied with themselves to stand in the gap. The breakdown of the family is of great concern because the breakdown we witness in our communities is a direct reflection. In cases where there was minimal family support, the likelihood of parental recovery is reduced. Then, you end up with children not only witnessing the abuse, but then being removed from families with no hopes of return. In sports, when a team player is wounded or injured, they have to sit out. The absence of a team member can cause the entire team to suffer. There is no difference within our families.

The call for the community to open their homes, nurture those who have been wounded and assist them on their journeys to healing always amazed me. The community was very responsive, taking the charge and assignment seriously, while others victimized the children even further. Children didn?t just transtion into the home of a stranger, but in most cases, a new school and community. So though we may turn a deaf ear or turn our eyes from what we witness, it is still having an effect. Domestic violence affects us all, whether it be directly or indirectly. Our communities are made up of families, and our families include children and adults. The effects of domestic violence do not lie. It is witnessed in adult relationships and friendships, how we choose to communicate and relate to one another. It is also witnessed in the classroom and on the playground. No man is an island.

?I show my scars so that others know they can heal.? October is recognized as domestic violence awareness month; get out, and get involved.

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Rhachelle Nicol?, mother, author, speaker, writer and advocate, discovered that her life purpose is to bring healing and hope to others. Rhachelle Nicol? has worked with abused and neglected children, juvenile delinquents and high risk families to reunify, redirect and assist families with accessing resources to function at their highest level for over 15 years. She is the?founder?of Mother 2 Mother CDC, an organization providing preventative services to at-risk mothers and families. Rhachelle Nicol? is very transparent in her approach when working with families. ?I show my scars so that others know they can heal.? Her mission in life is to inspire others to heal and grow, while allowing their dreams to take root.

Connect with her on Twitter, and read more about her journey at www.rhachellenicol.com.

[Photo Credit]

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Jamie Fleming-Dixon

Jamie Fleming-Dixon is the founder and author of ForColoredGurls.com. Her intention is to empower readers, inspire them to live their most fabulous lives and to motivate them to reach for their dreams and goals. This is done through motivational articles and quotes, interviews with women from all walks of life, posts on topics that affect every area of women's lives and more. For more info about Jamie and FCG, email her at info@forcoloredgurls.com.

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Tags: domestic violence, domestic violence awareness, Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Rhachelle Nicol, stop the violence

This entry was posted on October 9, 2012 at 11:57 am and is filed under Guest Bloggers, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

Source: http://forcoloredgurls.com/2012/10/who-suffers-at-the-hands-of-domestic-violence/

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