SCCFF recognizes Domestic Violence Awareness Month

The Sanders County Coalition For Families is once again getting the word out that domestic violence continues to be a problem by placing a near six-foot tall purple and white ribbon on a fence along Railroad Street as part of the "Domestic Violence Month Campaign."

Kayla Torres, SCCFF's community outreach coordinator, installed the plastic ribbons in Noxon, Trout Creek, Plains, and Hot Springs last week as part of October's National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Jail inmates at Thompson Falls erected the ribbon there. Torres said the ribbons will remain in place until November 1.

It took Torres about an hour to assemble each of the ribbons and attach them to chain link fences. The ribbons are made of 373 two-inch square plastic cubes called "clickers" - 129 white ones and 244 purple ones. This is the second year that Torres has put out the big ribbons, though SCCFF has participated in the program since 2015. "Purple is the symbol of hope for those affected by domestic violence," said Torres, who added that the ribbons are out as a key visual to raise awareness and to let the community know that domestic violence is a problem that needs attention. She said the purple ribbons might inspire people to get involved.

"I think the purple ribbon helps by raising awareness. You can't ignore it. And we can all work together to try to end domestic violence," she said. In addition to the ribbons around the county, the courthouse in Thompson Falls will use purple lights for the entire month of October and the outside lights at the SCCFF will be purple. Torres planned to give a presentation on healthy relationships at Thompson Falls Library this week. She said the ribbon campaign signifies that domestic violence continues to be a problem in not only Sanders County, but across the nation. "You can flip to any news source and hear almost daily of a homicide taking place directly related to domestic violence. No one may want to talk about it; however, the problem is still there, and these are members of our community and their lives matter," she said.

"We try to bring awareness every month, but this is more for the community to visualize the problem," said Torres, who's been with SCCFF for five years. SCCFF, which was created in 1993, is based in Thompson Falls and has a staff of eight, headed by Executive Director Gayle Seratt. It is a nonprofit organization that is funded through state and federal grants and private donations, which also pay for a full time detective from the Sanders County Sheriff's Office, April Phillips.

Torres said that October was first declared National Domestic Violence Awareness Month in 1989 and since then it has been a time to acknowledge domestic violence survivors and be a voice for its victims. "These are real flesh and blood who deserve to live. We want people to know they are not alone, that they won't become a statistic because they are so much more than that," said Torres. In April SCCFF conducts a child abuse awareness campaign and in February they have a campaign to recognize homicide victims.

Torres noted a report she saw on the Huffington Post, from the U.S. Justice Department that the number of U.S. troops killed in Afghanistan and Iraq between 2001 and 2012 was 6,488. She found that, according to the Huffington Post, a news blog, the number of women murdered by a current or male ex-partnerwas almost double those killed in the war in the same time frame. She said gun violence continues to be responsible for the majority of domestic violence-related homicides. She also noted that the problem doesn't just impact the victims, but it affects other family members, friends, coworkers, other witnesses, and the community at large.

"Children who grow up witnessing domestic violence, are among those seriously affected by this crime," she said. "Frequent exposure to violence in the home not only predisposes children to numerous social and physical problems, but also teaches them that violence is a normal way of life – therefore, increasing their risk of becoming society's next generation of victims and abusers."

In the last month, SCCFF has served just over 160 clients. Torres said their monthly numbers are usually double that and that the lower numbers might be an aftermath of COVID. "In addition to demonstrating support for victims and advocates, the display of purple ribbons throughout our community conveys a powerful message that there is no place for domestic violence in homes, neighborhoods, workplaces, or schools of its community members," said Torres, who added that SCCFF is ready to help victims. Reach SCCFF at (406) 827-3218 or (406) 827-3745.