DOMESTIC VIOLENCE 'Not Just a Woman's Issue'

The message from the leader of the local agency that works to stop domestic and sexual violence and help victims is easy to understand: “This is not just a woman’s issue.”

 Getting men and boys to embrace the idea, though, is tough, says Connie Brachtenbach, executive director of TESSA.

 “Men are almost immediately on the defensive when you talk about domestic violence because 90 percent of offenders are male,” she said. “But the majority of men are not offenders, and we shouldn’t be willing to settle for the small percentage that are creating fear and perpetuating the stereotypes.”

 On Friday morning, TESSA will host the city’s first town hall meeting, where a panel of elected officials will discuss the effects of domestic violence on public policy. A silent witness march from Penrose Public Library to the Pioneers Museum will follow, with participants carrying 70 silhouettes representing victims from Pikes Peak region over the past decade.

 “We need to personalize the tragedies and ask what are we as a community willing to settle for,” Brachtenbach said. “These are our mothers, sisters and daughters.”

 Cases of domestic violence are on the rise in Colorado Springs, partly because of the economic slump but also because victims are more willing to report, Brachtenbach said. According to TESSA’s numbers:

 • There’s been a 20 percent jump in clients seeking assistance through Sept. 30, compared with the first three quarters of last year. One in six local households now has episodes of domestic violence.

 • Calls to TESSA’s crisis line are up 30 percent this year over 2008.

 • The TESSA safe house, which has 32 beds, has been at capacity all year. Last year, the shelter turned away 180 people because there was no room; TESSA expects to turn away 30 percent more this year. (When there’s no room, victims are given other options, such as hotel vouchers.)

 Brachtenbach said domestic violence costs a community not only physically and emotionally, but also financially. Springs police respond to 15,000 to 20,000 domestic-violence related calls each year at an average cost of $315 per officer.

 “If we were able to effectively intervene and stop the violence at even just 10 percent, at least $945,000 in savings would result,” Brachtenbach said.

 TESSA estimates the tab for domestic violence in El Paso County, in terms of medical and law enforcement services, at $26 million annually.

 “We need men and boys to get involved, model healthy relationships and talk about how family violence, dating violence and sexual assault are not OK. This is not a private family issue, and we need to remove the stigma and shame factor and have comfortable conversations about how we can change this problem,” Brachtenbach said.

TESSA board member Alex Dumas says he's dedicated to the cause of reducing domestic violence because it benefits the community as a whole and improves the quality of life.

“We’re trying to get men and boys to realize that it’s not right under any circumstance to resort to violence,” said Dumas, a commercial broker with Olive Real Estate Group.

Details

October is national Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Several local events are planned for upcoming weeks in observance:

Friday, Oct. 9

• 7:30-9:30 a.m., Town Hall meeting at Penrose Public Library, 20 N. Cascade Ave., featuring panel of elected officials.

• 9:45 a.m., Silent Witness Walk, from the library to Pioneers Museum, 215 S. Tejon St., to honor 70 local victims

• Noon-1:30 p.m., Silent Witness Vigil, Pioneers Museum. Survivors give brief presentation on victims’ stories.

Through Friday

Allstate insurance agencies are collecting women’s suits and professional attire to donate to local domestic violence survivors. Go to www.ClickToEmpower.org for participating locations.

Week of Oct. 12

To kick off an “Open Doors” campaign to stop family violence, doors decorated by local artists will be placed around the community.

Oct. 18

5 p.m., Walk the Night in Calhan at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, 574 S. 8th St. Vigil. Children’s activities, free chili supper.

Oct. 21

11:30 a.m-1 p.m., “Tough Guise” movie shown in Cripple Creek at Aspen Mine Center, 166 E. Bennett Ave. Movie highlights the need for men and boys to become allies to end violence in the home. RSVP to 243-4833 by Oct. 14 to receive a free lunch.

Oct. 23

11:30-1 p.m., Brown Bag Lunch and Learn: Divorce, Custody and Child Support, at Partners in Housing 455 Gold Pass Heights on the Myron Stratton campus. Join attorney Julie Wolfe and TESSA staff in a discussion. Bring a lunch.

Throughout October

Beauty Brands, 7214 N. Academy Blvd., will donate a portion of sales of some products to TESSA.