Agenda - 11-05-20; 8-a - Minutes

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4 1 issues, support the victims of domestic violence, and to connect advocates across the nation 2 who are working to end domestic violence. 3 4 The Board of Commissioners is asked to proclaim October 2020 as "Domestic Violence 5 Awareness Month" in Orange County to support victims of domestic violence, to educate 6 residents, and support those working to end domestic violence. 7 8 Chair Rich introduced Valerie Sauer, Director of Community Education at the Compass 9 Center in Chapel Hill, who read the resolution. 10 11 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS 12 PROCLAMATION 13 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH 2O20 14 15 WHEREAS, domestic violence is a pattern of coercion and control in an intimate partner 16 relationship where one person uses violence to gain power and control over their partner; and 17 18 WHEREAS, domestic violence includes not only physical, but also mental abuse, emotional 19 abuse, financial abuse, isolation and sexual abuse; and 20 21 WHEREAS, individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of race, age, gender identity, or sexual 22 orientation can experience abuse by an intimate partner; and 23 24 WHEREAS, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, on average nearly 25 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. During 26 one year, this equates to more than 10 million women and men; and 27 28 WHEREAS, on a typical day there are 20,000 phone calls placed to domestic violence hotlines 29 nationwide according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence; and 30 31 WHEREAS, in North Carolina, according to the North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic 32 Violence, at least 57 individuals were murdered as a result of domestic violence in 2019; and 33 34 WHEREAS, Compass Center for Women and Families, the state-designated domestic violence 35 service provider for Orange County, served over 1,400 survivors of domestic violence through 36 their 24-hour hotline, support groups, court advocacy, crisis counseling, Latinx services, and 37 other services last year; and 38 39 WHEREAS, Compass Center has launched Safe Homes, New Lives - an innovative and 40 compassionate new housing strategy that empowers victims of domestic violence, provides 41 safety for them and their children, and keeps them in their community by providing scattered 42 housing across Orange County to shelter victims and their families for up to 3 months; and 43 44 WHEREAS, prevention strategies involve collaborations by multiple partners to promote social 45 norms, policies, and laws that support gender equity and foster intimate partnerships based on 46 mutual respect, equality, and trust; 47 48 Now, therefore, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners, do hereby proclaim this 49 time to be: 50 51 "Domestic Violence Awareness Month 2020"