By Lana Hollerud

Crime Victims Resource Center

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The next time you’re in a room with six people, think about this:

• One in four women experience violence from their partners in their lifetimes.

• One in three teens experience sexual or physical abuse or threats from a boyfriend or girlfriend.

• One in four women and one in six men were sexually abused before the age of 18.

Twenty-two percent of Americans report being victims of domestic violence. These statistics come from a new study “NO MORE Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, Survey of Attitudes and Experiences of Teens and Adults,” and highlight the fact that chances are very good that you are acquainted with someone who is dealing with some sort of victimization.

Sometimes it’s hard to know the right thing to say to an abuse victim, but if you remember two things you have all the knowledge you need to provide assistance to them. The first thing is that they don’t deserve to be abused and the second thing is to let them know that there is an agency here in Austin, Crime Victims Resource Center (CVRC), that can help them find ways to deal with their victimization. One service we offer is a support and education group for women who are, or who have been, involved in difficult relationships.

CVRC has been providing advocacy and support to abuse and crime victims in Mower County since 1977. The staff is dedicated to encouraging growth and recovery in a nonjudgmental setting. All of the services provided are free of charge, and confidential. Interpreter services are available upon request.

For more information on domestic violence please call 507 437-6680.