The uncomfortable truth is that domestic violence is thriving, even in the suburbs.
Allison O’Malley, 43, is the executive director of the nonprofit Safe Journey, which provides services to area women who are victims of domestic violence. She said many victims come forward quietly out of embarrassment.
“For most suburban victims, there is often never any law enforcement involvement because they don’t want the police officer sitting in their front yard,” said O’Malley. “They don’t want their neighbor knowing the police have been called to their house.”
The statistics have shown more cases within the last three years, from 40 women who came to Safe Journey for help in 2008 to 150 in 2011.
While many factors lead to physical abuse in the home, O’Malley said many incidents start with the financial burden of making ends meet.
“This prolonged economic struggle that we’re in is pushing more and more middle class families over the brink,” she said.
Victims are referred to Safe Journey from police, pastors and even therapists. They are offered counseling, job training and even gently-used furniture to help them start a new life away from abuse.
Now that the demand for their services has grown, Safe Journey is teaming up with the Rochester-based nonprofit Stand Up Guys — enlisting the help of men to broaden their reach.
“It’s critically important to involve men in a dialogue about violence against women because women can’t stop the violence alone,” O’Malley said. “We need men as partners to prevent the violence from happening in the first place.”
A ‘Woman’s Issue'
The merger, which has yet to be named, is the first of its kind in the Buffalo-Rochester-Syracuse region.
Peter Navratil, 56, of Ontario, NY, is the co-executive director of the new group. In 2004, the clinical social worker and substance abuse counselor co-founded Stand Up Guys in 2004 with friend Jack Brennick while both were working for Delphi Drug and Alcohol Council.
Since starting the organization, the focus of Stand Up Guys has been providing domestic violence prevention education for men through workshops and man-to-man style talks in schools, workplaces, and more.
Navratil said he continues to see a great need for more men to get involved in prevention efforts.
“Women have been speaking out about men’s violence against women very prolifically, but the voices of men haven’t been there,” Navratil said. “This is not a woman’s issue, this is not a man’s issue. It’s a community issue.”
The uncomfortable truth is that domestic violence is thriving, even in the suburbs.
Allison O’Malley, 43, is the executive director of the nonprofit Safe Journey, which provides services to area women who are victims of domestic violence. She said many victims come forward quietly out of embarrassment.
“For most suburban victims, there is often never any law enforcement involvement because they don’t want the police officer sitting in their front yard,” said O’Malley. “They don’t want their neighbor knowing the police have been called to their house.”
The statistics have shown more cases within the last three years, from 40 women who came to Safe Journey for help in 2008 to 150 in 2011.
While many factors lead to physical abuse in the home, O’Malley said many incidents start with the financial burden of making ends meet.
“This prolonged economic struggle that we’re in is pushing more and more middle class families over the brink,” she said.
Victims are referred to Safe Journey from police, pastors and even therapists. They are offered counseling, job training and even gently-used furniture to help them start a new life away from abuse.
Now that the demand for their services has grown, Safe Journey is teaming up with the Rochester-based nonprofit Stand Up Guys — enlisting the help of men to broaden their reach.
“It’s critically important to involve men in a dialogue about violence against women because women can’t stop the violence alone,” O’Malley said. “We need men as partners to prevent the violence from happening in the first place.”
A ‘Woman’s Issue'
The merger, which has yet to be named, is the first of its kind in the Buffalo-Rochester-Syracuse region.
Peter Navratil, 56, of Ontario, NY, is the co-executive director of the new group. In 2004, the clinical social worker and substance abuse counselor co-founded Stand Up Guys in 2004 with friend Jack Brennick while both were working for Delphi Drug and Alcohol Council.
Since starting the organization, the focus of Stand Up Guys has been providing domestic violence prevention education for men through workshops and man-to-man style talks in schools, workplaces, and more.
Navratil said he continues to see a great need for more men to get involved in prevention efforts.
“Women have been speaking out about men’s violence against women very prolifically, but the voices of men haven’t been there,” Navratil said. “This is not a woman’s issue, this is not a man’s issue. It’s a community issue.”
He said it’s often difficult for men to relate to female victims, and they allow the responsibility of caring for victims to fall to their female peers.
“If there were as many men that were victims of domestic violence or sexual abuse, then it would be the responsibility of men to assist those victims. Those numbers just don’t appear in emergency rooms or courtrooms,” he said.
O’Malley said that men and women must work together as allies to put an end to the problem. She said it all starts with changing the way men, whether perpetrators of violence or bystanders to it, speak out when it occurs.
By serving as role models for men and boys, they hope to see fewer cases of domestic violence.
“Men who see women as equals don’t recognize they have a role in sharing that belief across culture. I think we have a job to do in inviting men to the conversation,” she said. “They’ve just never really been invited.”
Combining the direct services of Safe Journey and the prevention education component led by Stand Up Guys, the new organization will reflect a two-tiered approach for the new group.
O’Malley said their mission will force men and women alike to think differently about the problem.
“If we’re successful in Monroe County, getting people to stop asking the question ‘Why does she stay?’ to ‘Why is it okay for the abuser to abuse?’ we’ve won, ... if people stop asking why the victim is a victim and start asking why it’s okay for the perpetrator to perpetrate, that’s a huge victory.”
