Domestic Violence Awareness Month


Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Melissa Littleshield, right, a sexual abuse advocate with Christos House in West Plains, met with the Ozark County commissioners Monday as they signed a proclamation designating October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The proclamation states that the Missouri State Highway Patrol recorded 44,372 domestic violence incidents and 71 domestic violence homicides in 2016. Christos House provided these statistics also: an estimated 3 to 4 million American women are beaten each year by their husbands or partners; each year more than 1,000 women, or four women per day, are killed by their husbands or partners; and domestic violence is believed to be the most common but least reported crime in our nation. Christos House is a non-profit organization and shelter for domestic and sexual violence victims in an eight-county area that includes Ozark County. The organization offers these  services at no cost to victims of domestic and sexual violence: a safe house, a 24-hour crisis line, victim advocacy, educational services, counseling, referrals, life skills classes, an emergency shelter, court advocacy, sexual assault advocacy, outreach services, resale shops, case management and a prevention program. For more information visit www.christoshouse.com or call 417-469-1190. Victims of domestic violence are encouraged to call the Christos House 24-hour hotline anytime at 800-611-5853. The national domestic violence hotline can also be reached at 1-800-799-SAFE. 

Ozark County Times

504 Third Steet
PO Box 188
Gainesville, MO 65655

Phone: (417) 679-4641
Fax: (417) 679-3423