Creating Domestic Violence Survivors
by Kimberly C. Dumpson, Executive Director, LIFE CRISIS CENTER

It can happen to anyone. You can be female. Or male. Age is nothing but a number. Race does not matter. Neither does socio-economic status or sexual orientation. It can happen to anyone. The "IT" is domestic violence, rape, or sexual assault. Domestic violence is about power and control. The cycle of violence includes physical abuse, verbal/emotional abuse, sexual abuse, intimidation, threats and economic control.

Each year, millions of children are witnesses to domestic violence in their homes. Children who grow up in violent homes learn violence as a coping skill and accept violence in their lives. They suffer much of the same psychological trauma as victims of child abuse.

Domestic violence does not just happen to middle-aged individuals. Research is showing alarming information about the number of teenagers who have experienced power and control related issues, even violence, in their dating relationships. We must educate our children about this issue.

For more than twenty five years, the Life Crisis Center, Inc., has been answering calls from those in our community who have experienced the most intrusive type of violence - that which occurs to our person and in our homes. Begun as the Rape Crisis Center in 1976, our agency was created to meet the needs of rape victims in our community who had little to no support systems after the rape occurred. It did not take long before those laying the foundation of this organization realized that there was a greater need in the community - a need for an agency to provide 24 hour, confidential, nonjudgmental support for many of life's issues, including but certainly not limited to domestic violence, child abuse, homelessness, emergency shelter, depression or suicide. And so, in 1978, the Life Crisis Center was born. In the first year of operation, the Life Crisis Center received less than 100 calls on hotlines that were answered primarily by volunteers from their homes on a limited basis. This past year, our counselors responded to over 14,000 callers from all nine counties on the Eastern Shore. When our domestic violence shelter accepted its first client more than five years ago, no one could have imagined that we would have provided shelter to more than 500 women and children, most from the tri-county area, who fled their homes because of domestic violence. In fact, just this past year, we provided shelter to 200 people. Our agency continues to strive for the best way to enhance the healing for even the smallest of victims, as evidenced by our partnership with the Wicomico Child Advocacy Center, a local effort based on national standards to enhance our response to child abuse through a coordinated response among social services, law enforcement, prosecution, health and counseling. Last year, our Agency helped hundreds of people obtain orders of protection from their abusive partners and with other legal matters stemming from their abuse, including child custody, legal separation and in some cases divorce. Through our Lower Shore Family Visitation Center, we have provided a safe and neutral location where non-custodial parents have court ordered visitation with their children after separation or divorce. And for those who abuse, we provide counseling through our anger management and domestic intervention groups, with the hope that they will take what they have learned and cease their violent behavior. Our volunteer advocates - who provide compassion and support for victims in local emergency rooms and courtrooms 24 hours per day- continue to help us create hundreds of survivors.

We know that we could not have helped to create survivors without your support. And if, just if, you know someone who could use our help - Call Us. We are here 24 hours a day and waiting to receive that call.

If you would like to help, for donations, please call (410) 749-HELP.
• To volunteer, please contact (410) 749-0771.
• If you or someone you know is a victim, BREAK THE SILENCE. Tell someone.
• Or call LIFE CRISIS CENTER at (410) 749 - HELP.