By Naeisha Rose
October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and in conjunction with the mayor’s office, Borough President Melinda Katz has set up a public workshop entitled “Surviving Partner Violence & Abuse” scheduled for Oct. 12 at the Queens Family Justice Center in Kew Gardens.
The workshop, located at 126-02 82nd Ave., is designed to empower survivors and service providers with information about the effects of intimate partner violence and how the trauma can be addressed, according to the Queens Borough President’s office.
“Intimate partner violence and abuse are heinous crimes that have long lasting impacts across communities,” said Katz. “In too many homes, families are robbed of their health and potential by their abusers. We must empower survivors with the strength to speak out, rise up and take back their lives.”
There were 1,368 assaults, 106 rapes and eight murders related to domestic violence in Queens from Jan. 1 to Sept. 30, according to the NYPD statistics.
The workshop, which will take place from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., will provide information on domestic violence prosecution procedures, survivors housing options, mental health, family court, family counselors, legal services, and immigration options for survivors, according to Katz’s office.
“The effects of intimate partner violence and abuse on survivors and their children are myriad, complex and pervasive,” said Cecile Noel, commissioner of the Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence. “For survivors and their children, help is available. From emergency housing to mental health counseling, to access to family and immigration legal services, the city of New York is committed to ensuring that survivors have access to support and inclusive services.”
To RSVP, contact Marissa Beckett, the director of programs at community partnerships at the Queens Family Justice Center, by phone at (718) 575-4504 or email at Maris
Reach reporter Naeisha Rose by e-mail at nrose
