Interpersonal Violence -

Violence is never welcome in any community. Overall, Carroll County is a safe place to live, even though we still have occurrences of all types of violence.

The purpose of those who work to raise awareness about interpersonal violence is to free people of all ages from violence and its effects in their relationships.

Source: Family and Children’s Services of Central Maryland

The Purple Ribbon:
What began as a visible gesture of support for survivors and victims of domestic violence has now become one of the most widely recognized symbols of the battered women's movement.

Families and friends of victims of violence have adopted the purple ribbon to remember and honor loved ones who lost their lives at the hands of a person they once loved and trusted. Shelters and local battered women's programs use the purple ribbon to raise awareness about the crime of domestic violence in their communities. The purple ribbon has been recognized by state Legislatures in proclamations commemorating October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

The display of purple ribbons in a community conveys a powerful message that there is no place for domestic violence in the homes, neighborhoods, workplaces or schools of its citizens. (Ohio Domestic Violence Network, 2001)

See www.purpleribbonproject.com for more on the Purple Ribbon.

Healthy People 2010 lists levels of injury and violence as leading indicators of the health of a community. This report recommends indicators that communities should examine to measure their progress towards eliminating violence. Those indicators are:

Vital Signs Indicators:
Carroll County indicators of interpersonal violence are available in our data tracking project, Vital Signs: Measures of Community Health. See this document for information on occurrences of violence in our community.

Goals and Objectives:
Violence is noted for its destructive impact on individuals, families and society. Our organization focuses on decreasing all types of violence in our lives. To that end, the Partnership has four goals:

A new resource, the Get Connected Family Resource Center, is now open in Carroll County. Housed at the Carroll Nonprofit Center in Westminster, this program serves as a single point of access for families with children who have developmental disabilities, mental health issues, substance abuse issues, interpersonal violence experiences, and other concerns.

The Resource Center's team of Family Navigators and Cultural Navigators has personal experience with searching for services for their own children, and understands the frustrations that families experience when they need help but don’t know where to look. Navigators will help parents identify their needs and strengths, use a large data base of services to locate appropriate services, and empower parents to become their family’s best advocates.

This free resource can by used by any family in Carroll County. Check www.getconnectedcc.org for more information and a calendar of activities.

Accomplishments:
The Partnership for a Healthier Carroll County Inc. created and continues to manage, along with the Domestic Violence Coordinating Council and Granite House, Inc., a gripping antiviolence display called The Clothesline Project. This display increases awareness of the occurrence and impact of violence, celebrates survival, and provides an avenue for victims to heal and courageously break the silence that often surrounds abuse.

The Partnership assisted the Local Management Board and other community organizations in creating an Interpersonal Violence Resource Directory entitled Responding to Interpersonal Violence in Carroll County, Maryland which lists resources and services available to local victims of violence. Copies are available through the Local Management Board, and the Directory is posted on their website, www.carrollfamilies.org under "Need Help with Family Issues?"

In 2004, The Partnership was involved in forming the South Carroll Diversity Roundtable (SCDR) to address the racial and religious vandalism in the South Carroll area. In a pro-active approach, we strive to inform, stimulate concern, and promote positive activities to eliminate discriminatory behavior.

In 2007, the SCDR received a $500 grant received from the Local Management Board to purchase videos and resources for educational activities. The movie “Blue Eyed with Jane Elliott” shows an experiment conducted by a teacher with her third grade class to create an awareness of racial prejudice. “Race - the Power of Illusion” is a three-part film series illustrating that there is no biological basis for the concept of race. These films may be checked out for personal viewing or for group showing. See our Community Calendar Community Calendar for scheduled public showings.

All South Carroll residents are invited to participate in the SCDR meetings, programs and events. The group meets at 8:30am on the 3rd Thursday of each month in the media center of South Carroll High School.

Community Support/Partners:
Local organizations and programs addressing concerns of interpersonal violence include:

Domestic Violence Conference:
The Domestic Violence Coordinating Council has successfully organized educational conferences on domestic and interpersonal violence. Together with Family and Children's Services of Central Maryland and other local partners, they produce an event focusing on issues such as elder abuse, date rape, child neglect, and family law. Check with the Council for information on an upcoming conference.

Contact information:
The Domestic Violence Coordinating Council, which is supported by Family and Children's Services of Central Maryland, serves as the Partnership's Work Group in the area of Interpersonal Violence.

The Council usually meets at 10:00 AM on the fourth Friday of each month at the Carroll Nonprofit Center in Westminster, Maryland and is open to interested citizens over the age of 18. Contact Lexi Schafer to confirm the current meeting time.