WW In The News

OCTOBER IS NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH
Wednesday, October 05, 2005 - Domestic Abuse Project (DAP)

THE DOMESTIC ABUSE PROJECT OF DELAWARE COUNTY CONTINUES ITS WORK… THIS MONTH AND EVERY MONTH.

Media, PA.… October, 2005… October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a time when domestic violence programs across the nation draw attention to domestic violence and its devastating consequences for women, children and the community at large. The Domestic Abuse Project of Delaware County, Inc. ("DAP") is a private, non-profit agency founded twenty-nine (29) years ago to provide advocacy, counseling, emergency shelter, legal representation, transitional housing and education and outreach to victims of domestic violence throughout Delaware County. DAP is the sole provider of domestic violence services to residents of the County.

The effects of domestic violence on children are severe and can be permanent causing life-long behavioral and emotional problems including poorer academic performance, higher rates of substance abuse and alcoholism along with a greater rate of involvement in the criminal system. Further, as adults, the cycle of violence continues.

DAP serves clients from all 49 townships and boroughs in Delaware county working closely with the District Attorney’s Office, law enforcement, the District courts, and their District Judges along with the Court of Common Pleas.

In fiscal year 2005, DAP:

Served 5,373 victims of domestic violence and their children including 2,747 calls to DAP’s 24/7 hotline
Provided 4,021 nights of emergency shelter to women/children and assisted 16 families in our long-term transitional housing program
Provided 7,787 hours of counseling to victims and family members
Assisted 414 victims in gaining protection from abuse orders and made 817 court appearances on behalf of clients
Represented 410 victims in the Court of Common Pleas and trained 131 police officers at roll call trainings throughout the county
Assisted 701 new victims at criminal court proceedings at 36 district courts
Completed 293 presentations reaching 11,233 students, employers and the community at large about domestic violence along with 11 specialized trainings on domestic violence
Assisted numerous clients in hospital settings and provided 44 specialized trainings to healthcare professionals.

The Board of Directors and staff of DAP urge Delaware County residents to get involved. There are numerous ways residents can make a real difference including:

Volunteer – call 610.565.6272 to learn more.
Refer a person in need to our 24/7 Hotline: 610.565.4590
Donate items to Nana’s Attic Thrift Store – DAP’s retail shop in the Lawrence Park Shopping Center in Broomall. Call 610.325.0768 about making donations. Ask about our furniture consignment program!
Give: make a tax-deductible contribution to support the work of DAP. A $35. donation can provide one hour of counseling to a woman and her children providing them with a safety plan and other resources to protect them from future harm and violence.
Contribute an in-kind donation. Call 610.565.6272 for a copy of our current DAP Needs List.

Go to www.dapdc.org for additional Agency information. All services provided by DAP are free and confidential for residents of Delaware County. DAP is a WOMENS WAY and United Way Agency.

Domestic violence occurs at epidemic proportions in the United States and locally. 153 Pennsylvanians lost their lives last year to domestic violence including three young children and seven (7) persons in Delaware County. See www.pcadv.org for the 2004 Domestic Violence Homicide Report published by the Pennsylvania Coalition against Domestic Violence.