Restore Smiles During Domestic Violence Awareness MonthOctober 9, 2020 by AACD Executive OfficeBy Lisa Fitch, CAE, Director of AACD Charitable Foundation October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. It’s a time to remember those who’ve lost their lives because of domestic violence, celebrate those who’ve survived, educate the public about this serious social issue, and reinvigorate efforts to end violence. The FactsDomestic violence can be a tough topic to talk about. The unfortunate reality is that there is a good chance that you know someone who has experienced it or that it has even occurred under your own roof. Domestic violence affects both women and men and is pervasive across all races, ethnicities, educational levels, sexual orientation and socioeconomic statuses. In the United States, one in four women will experience physical violence at the hands of an intimate partner in their lifetime. That means on average, every minute, nearly 20 people are physically assaulted (source: National Coalition Against Domestic Violence).
Domestic Violence is About ControlContrary to popular belief, someone doesn’t become violent out of frustration or anger or even because they had too much to drink. Domestic violence is a conscious decision to maintain power and control over another person. It includes physical violence, sexual violence, psychological violence, and emotional abuse. Each abusive relationship may be different, but in every case, varying tactics such as intimidation, emotional abuse, and isolation are used by abusers to gain and maintain power and control over the victim. Lynnette's Story
Give Back a Smile Heals Effects of Domestic ViolenceAround 75% of physical assaults are to the head, neck and mouth areas (source: “Enhancing Dental Professionals Response to Intimate Partner Violence”), which result in a great deal of dental injuries. Bruises and scars fade, but broken and missing teeth cannot repair themselves. So the AACD Charitable Foundation (AACDCF) focuses its efforts on restoring the smiles -- and lives -- of survivors of domestic and sexual violence whose oral health have been affected by the abuse. Since the inception of the AACDCF’s Give Back a Smile program, more than 1,800 survivors of domestic violence have received life-changing smile restorations all across the United States. There are currently 110 people receiving care through Give Back a Smile located in 33 different states. How You Can Help in October and All Year RoundOpenly talk about the issue
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