Parnell continues to advocate Choose Respect to stamp out Domestic Violence

Governor Parnell outlined elements of his proposed budget during Wednesday Night’s State of the State address, including budget items for public safety and the Choose Respect campaign, an effort to stamp out and eliminate Domestic Violence

[audio:https://ktna.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/1GovernorDV.mp3|titles=1GovernorDV]Governor’s Choose Respect at the State of the State Address(5:50″)

Full script

Governor Parnell outlined elements of his proposed budget during Wednesday Night’s State of the State address, including budget items for public safety and the Choose Respect campaign, an effort to stamp out and eliminate Domestic Violence:

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Parnell presented the proposed budget in December, which awaits approval by the Legislature. The budget would allocate funding for screening and services for victims of domestic abuse or sexual violence, housing assistance, support for shelters, prevention, and increased supervision of felons convicted of domestic violence.

Sunshine Clinic’s Behavior Health provider Cici Schoenberger is involved in the Clinic’s Domestic Violence Awareness program and provides domestic violence services in Talkeetna. She says Parnell’s consistent emphasis on prevention of Domestic Violence is in itself and excellent step towards prevention.

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Domestic violence typically sees a spike in January that coincides with  the Superbowl as well as the close of the holiday season when people are feeling a financial pinch.

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Recent studies have reported that 6 out of 10 alaskan women will face domestic violence situations in their lifetimes. Schoenberger adds that one in seven Alaskan men will also face domestic violence, but those numbers are more difficult to verify because men tend to be less likely to seek help.

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There are a number of ways people can get support for domestic violence, either by visiting Sunshine Clinic, joining the Clinic’s domestic violence support group, which meets every Wednesday afternoon from three to four, or by giving her a call at the clinic. People interested in assisting the Choose Respect initiative are invited to join the Choose Respect rally events in Talkeetna and Willow this March. At last year’s march, participants made “Flags of Awareness” that are taken up to Mt. McKinley by climbers.

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