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October serves as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and an agency in northeast Nebraska is doing its part to help those in need in the area.
Wednesday, October 19, 2022, 4:13 p.m. CDT
NORFOLK, Neb. — During their lifetime, one in four women and one in seven men will have been injured by their partner.
October serves as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and an agency in northeast Nebraska is doing its part to help those in need in Norfolk.
Domestic violence is a recurring problem that knows no borders, which means anyone can be a victim.
It was October 1989 when Domestic Violence Awareness Month was launched nationwide to connect survivors and their allies to an overlooked family issue.
Bright Horizons has been advocating for and providing resources to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault since opening in 1976.
“So we do individual advocacy, we do support group services, we have emergency shelter, we have transitional shelter, and then other advocacy,” said Lyndsey Figgner, outreach coordinator for Bright Horizons.
Bright Horizons has partnered with businesses in downtown Norfolk for the past two years during Domestic Violence Awareness Month by hanging up signs with educational and statistical information.
Purple ribbons can also be seen downtown, symbolizing support, and have been for four years.
Anyone needing help or wanting to learn how to support victims is encouraged to contact Bright horizons.
“So if anyone has any questions about anything, just give us a call to find out how to support someone, if you see signs of them struggling or pulling away from you,” Figgner said. “Supporting the victim is the most important thing because most of the time victims don’t think anyone will believe them.”
Bright Horizons will continue to advocate through social action and empowerment.
“It’s very important because we want victims to come here knowing they are victims, but leave knowing they are survivors and have survived what they have been through,” said Figgner.
The organization offers domestic violence support groups on Mondays and Thursdays, and healing yoga for survivors on Wednesdays.
