Out in the open: Family violence in our backyard

It may happen behind closed doors, but the toll that it’s taking on the Charlottesville area is no secret. Family violence costs us: in human suffering at every age, rising costs for mental health and medical care, strained resources for law enforcement, diminished workplace productivity and the tragedy of homeless shelters at capacity. The costs of family violence are real, far-reaching and all Charlottesville-area residents - and all Virginians - pay.

How well are we doing as a commonwealth in protecting a fundamental right of residents - to live safely in their own homes? Up until now, we could only guess at the answer. But, a groundbreaking report from the Family and Children’s Trust Fund (known as FACT) brings together data that highlights conditions for Virginians of all ages who have experienced violence within their families.

“Violence At Home: The FACT Report” is unique because it looks at family violence holistically, across different types of violence and the entire lifespan. Those findings are centrally located in one report, which measures 18 “social indicators” in eight geographic regions. Readers will be familiar with some of the indicators - the percentage of people living below the poverty line.

Other indicators are less widely known, but can reveal surprising, and troubling, facts about the community. For instance, Albemarle County is among the localities with the highest number of substantiated reports of abuse, neglect or exploitation of those aged 60 or older and of incapacitated adults aged 18 or older, in which abuse or neglect, including self-neglect, occurred in the individual’s own home.

Why would this be true for Albemarle?

Herein lies the report’s real power: Its publication provides an unprecedented opportunity for us as residents, policymakers and public and private organizations to determine the answer to that question, and others. Lives depend upon it.

The FACT Report includes hypotheses to questions such as:

• What leads to some communities having higher rates of a family violence and others having lower rates?
• Why are arrest rates for family violence different among the regions?
• What might be reasons for apparent increases in child and elder abuse in some regions compared to others?

Based on data gathered over five years, the FACT Report was created to do more than get us talking as a community, although that’s critical, too. As service providers and concerned citizens, we have a tool that helps identify whether our current services and practices are matching community needs. And, if they’re not, we can refer to a uniform set of data points to collaborate on concrete strategies that help residents of every age and background meet a fundamental expectation - to be safe in their own homes.

There’s no question that some of the statistical information is tough to read. One sobering stat: Thirty percent to 60 percent of those who are violent toward their intimate partners also abuse children in the household.

Rather than discourage us, let’s use this information to encourage, push, demand that resources be allocated based on need and monitored to ensure effectiveness. The goal of the FACT Report isn’t to make Virginians feel as if there is nothing they can do. It’s just the opposite, because so much is already being done.

For instance, in Charlottesville, the Foothills Child Advocacy Center provides a culturally sensitive, coordinated community response to allegations of child abuse. The setting provides a child-friendly atmosphere, with experienced counselors facilitating conversations with families. In 2008, Foothills served more than 140 abused/neglected/victimized children in the Charlottesville-Albemarle community. To provide its multidisciplinary investigation, treatment and support services, the Foothills Child Advocacy Center collaborates with 13 partners.

Understanding the interrelated and intergenerational nature of the family violence helps prevent future harm. Surviving the Teen Years, sponsored by Children, Youth and Family Services, is a six-week parenting course combined with home-based, individualized consultations with parents. The program uses an established national curriculum, and parents and their teens participate together in all services. Most families are referred due to identified risk factors, and live in Charlottesville and the counties of Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa and Nelson.

These are two examples, but there are many others. The commonwealth has so many dedicated organizations and individuals that will benefit from a definitive report on family violence across the lifespan continuum. Virginians of every age who are affected by this understand the terrible costs of family violence. Now it’s time for us to become educated and active to eradicate this blight.