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Special recognition proclaiming October 2023 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
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SPECIAL RECOGNITION
WHEREAS, domestic violence is a national problem that crosses all economic, racial, gender, educational, religious, and societal barriers; and
WHEREAS, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, one in three women and one in seven men will experience domestic violence, and most cases are never reported to the police. With 264,729 females and 258,984 males living in Lake County, the formula bears that 88,243 women and 36,998 men in Lake County will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime; and
WHEREAS, abuse by intimate partners is highly underreported and knowing someone is being abused is not always as easy as seeing a bruise. Other signs may include excuses for injuries, personality changes (like low self-esteem in someone who is normally confident), wearing clothes that don’t fit the season (like long sleeves in summer to cover bruises), constantly checking in with their partner, never having money on hand, being overly worried about pleasing their partner, and skipping out on work, school, or social outing for no reason; and
WHEREAS, in case of emergency, call 911! For 24/7 assistance and resources, call A Safe Place’s Crisis Line at 847-249-4450; and
WHEREAS, ways to help or support someone experiencing domestic violence include believing the victim, creating space for them to make decisions without coercion or manipulation, not underestimating the level of danger they are in, refraining from conditional support, and not provoking or antagonizing the abuser; and
WHEREAS, through cooperative efforts between departments, agencies, and the courts, Lake County has been focused on putting an end to domestic violence; and
WHEREAS, the State’s Attorney’s Office has a Domestic Violence Division consisting of Assistant State’s Attorneys and Victim Witness Coordinators who specialize in prosecuting domestic violence and helping the victims in collaboration with A Safe Place, who provides legal advocacy and professional assistance inside the courthouse to survivors seeking orders of protection; and
WHEREAS, a Domestic Violence Manual also has been developed to provide policies and procedures to effectively investigate and prosecute domestic violence cases; and
WHEREAS, additional partnerships with justice agencies, not-for-profit agencies, survivor service providers, treatment providers, and healthcare providers are vital to the success of eliminating domestic violence in Lake County; and
WHEREAS, the Lake County Board established the Lake County Domestic Violence Council, which makes recommendations to improve the response to domestic violence, promote effective prevention, intervention and treatment techniques, and promote community awareness and education; and
WHEREAS, Lake County has been selected to head a pilot Regional Review Team under the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Act, which seeks to find ways to reduce domestic partner homicides by looking at the root causes of domestic violence from a multidisciplinary approach.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RECOGNIZED, by this County Board of Lake County, Illinois, that October 2023 is designated as Domestic Violence Awareness Month and urges residents to work together toward eliminating domestic violence so that survivors of domestic violence, intimate partners, children, and families can live safely and without fear.
DATED at Waukegan, Illinois, on October 10, 2023.