Pictured (left to right): Kelly Franklin (BGBC CEO), Sheila Collier (WGA President), Dr. Gail Patin (HHCEO), Julia Edwards (QH CEO), and Kristi Brandon (WGA Communications Chair and HH Chief Development and Administration Officer)
Part of an ongoing series dedicated to ending violence through education and community support.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, an opportunity to join our community in bringing attention to WGA’s focus area: Addressing Violence Against Women and Girls. While domestic violence is a difficult subject, some basic knowledge and tools can give you a solid foundation so you can help a survivor in need.
The legal definition of domestic violence in Florida focuses on physical tactics like assault, stalking, and kidnapping among family or household members. These are just some of the tactics used in an abusive relationship, though. Domestic violence may also include manipulating, threatening children, stealing money, damaging property, insulting, compromising financial independence, and much more.
In WGA’s service area, there are five certified domestic violence centers: Betty Griffin Center (St. Johns), Hubbard House (Duval, Baker), Lee Conlee House (Putnam), Micah’s Place (Nassau), and Quigley House (Clay). At each Center, you will see very similar help and services offered, although their scope and size may be different. A survivor and her family will receive trauma-informed wrap-around services, case management, counseling and more, whether that’s from emergency shelters for the most potentially lethal domestic violence cases, or through outreach services.
The addresses of the emergency shelters are not shared publicly, so people often ask how survivors are able to access that help. The Centers operate 24-hour Hotlines, which often serve as the point of entry into shelter. The Centers also work with law enforcement and strategic partners, to connect survivors in especially vulnerable situations to the services that are available.
The best way to connect a survivor to life-saving resources is to empower her to call the 24-hour hotline in the county the survivor lives. You can even consider offering your phone for her to use to make that call, in case her own phone is not safe to use. She may not be ready to make that call today. The survivor knows what is best and safest for her and her children, so it is important to let her lead in that journey to safety. But planting the seed of knowledge about the resources that are available may make all the difference and save a life.
Many of the local Centers are conducting social media campaigns this month. WGA Members can help them get the word out about the 24-hour hotlines by sharing posts from the Centers. Host a speaker from one of the Centers to raise awareness or attend one of the events the Centers host. These are simple steps that can help enhance the community conversation around this issue and position you to be an advocate for those in need in our community. There are many ways you can help a survivor find safety!
Northeast Florida 24-Hour Domestic Violence Hotlines:
Betty Griffin Center (St. Johns): (904) 824-1555
Hubbard House (Duval, Baker): (904) 354-3114
Lee Conlee House (Putnam): (386) 325-3141
Micah’s Place (Nassau): (904) 225-9979
Quigley House (Clay): (904) 284-0061