Group Kicks Off Domestic Violence Awareness Month

(Host) Statewide leaders and advocates have kicked off "Domestic Violence Awareness" month.

Their goal is to put a spotlight on a problem that persists in Vermont - where more than half of all homicides are related to domestic violence.

Autumn Barnett supervises batterer intervention programs in Chittenden County. She says an important part of responding to domestic violence is to make the community aware that it exists.

(Barnett) "One of the problems with domestic violence is that it is behind closed doors, often. And so the problem persists when we don't talk about it publicly, and we don't put our resources and focus on it."

(Host) Paul Hochanadel is director of violence intervention and prevention programs at Spectrum Youth and Family Services.

He says it's important for men to take a stand publicly in the fight against violence in the home.

(Hochanadel) "Currently, unfortunately, men's participation in this issue is either that men are silent or absent in the discussion or they're perpetrators."

(Host) Speakers at the kickoff event included Attorney General Bill Sorrell, and musician Tammy Fletcher, a survivor of domestic abuse.