Solano County is recognizing October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. It also is the 27th commemoration of domestic violence awareness nationwide.
The Board of Supervisors is scheduled adopt a resolution Tuesday that acknowledges October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in the county to raise public awareness about the prevalence and cost of domestic violence.
Somewhere in America, according to staff in a report to the board, a woman is battered every 15 seconds, usually by her intimate partner. Additionally, 1 in 3 female homicide victims is killed by an intimate partner. That ratio for men is 1 in 28.
In 2013, one Solano County woman was killed by her husband. This is a decrease from the seven women who were killed by their partners in 2010.
Staff also noted that domestic violence is one of the most common yet least reported crimes in the United States.
Efforts to reduce domestic violence in Solano County received a significant boost in April with the opening of the Solano Family Justice Center, where victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, stalking and elder abuse can receive an array of services. The one-stop location, according to staff, allows victims to avoid having to visit, on average, 23 separate locations where services had been provided prior to the opening of the center.
"Progress against domestic violence relies heavily on public awareness and changing community attitudes," staff reported. "Solano County's network of victim-service agencies works to educate the public with which they have contact on family violence prevention strategies designed to break cycles of violence."
Events this month aimed at domestic violence awareness include:
* Fourth Annual Solano County Domestic Violence Day of Remembrance on Oct. 25 in the Solano Family Justice Center, 604 Empire St., Fairfield. The event will recognize and remember lives lost in 2012 as a result of family violence.
* Kaiser Permanente Family Violence Prevention Team's Seventh Annual Eat to Defeat Domestic Violence on Oct. 17 at various restaurants in Solano County. Local restaurants will donate a portion of their proceeds from the day's sales to benefit several organizations the help with victims.
* An event that combines Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Breast Cancer Awareness Month called "A Beautiful You" will provide a mini spa day to empower victims and survivors to feel good about themselves, in the Family Advocacy Office at Travis Air Force Base from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Oct. 18. For more information about this event call, 423-5165.
The Solano County Board of Supervisors meets at 1 p.m. in the County Government Center, 675 Texas St., Fairfield.
Follow Staff Writer Melissa Murphy at Twitter.com/ReporterMMurphy.