By JAY TIBSHRAENY
Contributor
I recently had the opportunity to attend the City’s 9th Annual Domestic Violence Awareness breakfast and briefly discuss many of the resources available to residents who may in some way be involved in this terrible epidemic.
While Chandler is ranked among the leaders as a “Safest City to Raise a Family,” we can always do more to end domestic violence. As I told those in the packed room at the downtown Community Center, it is our responsibility as a community to ensure women, men and children receive support and protection if we are to safely break the cycle of abuse.
We are very fortunate that Chandler is an amazing, forward-thinking community. We have several unique resources in our city that assist victims of domestic violence. Some include:
Chandler also has a number of social service agencies leading the way in the fight against domestic violence. These organizations provide a vast array of services to our community members when they are faced with a crisis, such as domestic violence. They include ICAN; AZCEND (formerly the Chandler Christian Community Center); IHELP, the Interfaith Homeless Emergency Lodging Program; the Boys and Girls Club of the East Valley; Chandler Unified School District’s Chandler Care Center, a school-based family resource center where children receive medical, dental and counseling services; and My Sister’s Place, a domestic violence shelter run by Catholic Charities that offers shelter to men, women and children affected by domestic violence and human trafficking.
Domestic abuse doesn’t happen between the convenient hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is a 24/7 epidemic. We all have a role to play in transforming a culture of “no more violence.” And it begins now. If you are, or know of someone suffering from the anguish and hopelessness of domestic violence, please seek out these resources. Help is literally “just around the corner.” Jay Tibshraney is mayor of Chandler.