Proclamation
WHEREAS, October is annually recognized as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month; and, WHEREAS, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 7 men have experienced some form of physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime and, WHEREAS, In the last year Valley Crisis Center received 966 domestic violence hotline calls, and, WHEREAS, In the last year Valley Crisis Center sheltered 75 men, women, and children, and, WHEREAS, Valley Crisis Center serves victims of intimate partner violence and their children; and, WHEREAS, In the United States an average of 20 people per minute experience intimate partner physical violence every minute, this equates to 10 billion abuse victims annually, and, WHEREAS, children affected by domestic violence may learn unhealthy relationship behaviors, which can increase their risk of experiencing domestic violence as adults; and, WHEREAS, research shows that Adverse Childhood Experiences, such as growing up in a home with domestic violence, have long-term impacts on children’s health; and, WHEREAS, we must invest in violence prevention programs that address trauma and teach healthy relationship skills in order to stop intergenerational cycles of domestic violence; and, WHEREAS, children are resilient and can heal from their experiences with the support of caring adults and communities.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, matthew serratto, Mayor of the City of Merced hereby proclaim the month of October 2023 as “Domestic Violence Awareness Month” and encourage all community members to participate in Valley Crisis Center’s planned activities for the month of October.
Signed this 16th day of October 2023.
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Matthew Serratto, Mayor of Merced