This past October, to recognize Domestic Violence Awareness month, Gainesville, Florida TV station WCJB-TV interviewed LSF Health Systems’ CEO Dr. Christine Cauffield to discuss domestic violence and how the pandemic may be affecting the number of cases being reported. Dr. Cauffield noted that calls to the National Domestic Violence Hotline are expected to rise once social distancing restrictions are loosened. “As things lift and as individuals are able to get out or people can now visit and feel more comfortable visiting, we will see an even greater increase in those cases again,” said Dr. Cauffield. “Loved ones, colleagues, friends that normally may visit and see signs and symptoms have not been able to connect with that individual and so a lot of these cases have been unreported.”
The story also featured an interview with Valarie Voughn, a Recovery Care Specialist and domestic violence survivor. Voughn received her Certificate of Completion from LSF Health Systems in July after completing the 40-hour Recovery Peer Specialist Training Helping Others Heal through LSF’s Training Institute. Voughn, an employee at Shining Light Peer Services in Palatka, says while it may be difficult to find a way out of a violent relationship, one of the first steps is gaining the courage to reach out for help. “To be able to love yourself and just to know your worth and to know that you deserve better and that you can have better that’s just a huge step.”
A link to the story is located here: https://www.wcjb.com/2020/10/28/prisoners-in-their-own-home-domestic-violence-calls-increase-during-the-pandemic/.
