The webinar will be held via Zoom, the web-based video conferencing platform.
Rochelle will be joined by Lt. Patrick Lynch, Patrol Division Commander & Public Information Officer of the Ansonia Police Department; Meghan Scanlon, President & CEO of the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence; Cindy Carlson, Program Manager at the Umbrella Center for Domestic Violence, BHCare; and Geralyn O'Neil-Wild, TEAM, Inc. Board of Directors Board Officer.
Participants will learn more about the warning signs of domestic violence, the power and control dynamics involved, and community resources available to those experiencing domestic violence.
This will include legal rights, transition services, and counseling options, among other topics. Panelists will also provide an overview of the new 2021 law that expanded Connecticut's definition of domestic violence to include coercive control, among other things.
Participants will be able to register for the webinar at https://bit.ly/3nIPsHQ.
"Domestic violence can affect anyone regardless of their background, and the warning signs aren't always obvious. The pattern of behavior may start subtly and become more aggressive over time. This forum is designed to help those experiencing or possibly witnessing domestic violence to recognize the warning signs and know where they can access assistance in our community. Our goal is to also empower people who may be experiencing domestic violence and friends who may wish to learn how they can connect a loved one who is experiencing domestic violence to support," said Rochelle.
The forum comes two weeks after an Ansonia mother of three was allegedly killed by her husband during a domestic dispute. This is the third woman in two years from Ansonia or Derby to be killed by a current or former intimate partner. According to the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence, this is also marks the ninth known intimate partner homicide in Connecticut this year.
Domestic violence is a pattern of coercive behavior where one partner attempts to control and dominate the other through verbal, psychological, physical, sexual, financial, or technological abuse.
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, domestic violence has become more prevalent as residents experience isolation and grapple with unemployment and diminished access to necessities.
During the 2020 fiscal year from November 2019 to June 2020, the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence reported in June 2020, shelter capacity was at 151 percent, spending $78,803 on hotels to temporarily house victim-survivors. In that same month, outgoing calls to ensure existing clients could access services necessary to be safe increased 97 percent from June 2019.
Attendees will be able to ask the panelists questions before and during the event using the Zoom chat function.
Individuals who have questions they would like to ask the panel privately and confidentially can email them to Rochelle at Kara.Rochelle@cga.ct.gov.
This is a press release from Rochelle's office.
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