When asked if the efforts of the Gloucester Coalition to Prevent Domestic Abuse (CPDA) have been effective, recently retired Public Health Nurse Sunny Robinson said "I believe prevention does work, but it is subtle. The work of the coalition doesn't prevent all domestic abuse but contributes to greater awareness and earlier interventions, which often saves lives or more serious injury."

Since its inception eight years ago, the CPDA has collaborated with area organizations to promote greater responsiveness within its own agencies. "This is one realm in which I think we have been particularly effective," says Robinson, "There are many more organizations aware of these potential problems and people have been slowly addressing them."

Clara Gaudette-Clark, Cape Ann program coordinator for Help for Abused Women and their Children (HAWC), praised the coalition's work. "I think because of the awareness created, people are calling, and it's helping us do more safety planning earlier. This results in fewer instances that can escalate to physical assault, for example."

Safety planning is a cornerstone of helping each client at HAWC, and plans vary from case to case, depending upon needs of the family. In high-risk situations, a restraining order may be sought, and a client would be instructed to carry a cell phone to summon help and prevent an abuser from entering the home. Within the home, clients are advised not to go near stairs or kitchen during disputes, since both are danger zones. Clients are also assisted if they need to leave the area to stay safe, and all are urged to keep key phone numbers and information readily available.

The home safety plans are important, since HAWC does not require an abused person to end their relationship in order to receive services, and many persons decide not to. "We believe in the empowerment model," Gaudette-Clark said. "We give information and offer options, but the client chooses. It is up to them."

Domestic abuse is widespread and deadly, and the incidence of domestic violence homicide has increased statewide, Gaudette-Clark said. This is due in part to a broader definition of what constitutes this crime, but the fact remains that domestic abuse is a reality for many persons; women, men, children, the elderly.

The coalition, through its sister organization the Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Partnership (GCSAPP,) has offered ongoing training to individuals, professionals and community groups to provide a road map for preventing sexual abuse and responding to it effectively if people suspect it is occurring.

The staff and families from Pathways for Children have been trained, for example, and this model agency has been conducting an internal audit of their policies and practices to determine if they can do even more to protect their clients against possible sexual abuse. "This is really terrific that an agency that already goes the extra mile to assure children's safety is asking if there is more they could do to be doubly sure," Robinson said.

Local schools, she continued, have also demonstrated concern for the safety of their students, so have conducted trainings for parents and staff on issues like Internet safety, countering media influences about the sexualization of children, and recognizing and responding to youth behavioral issues that might signal abuse. Similarly, the Office of the Essex County District Attorney has remained committed to addressing and preventing domestic abuse and is active in many communities on Massachusetts' North Shore. In addition, clergy and laity at parishes such as St. John's Episcopal have become more sensitized to parishioners who may be in an abusive relationship, Robinson said.

Because of this widespread outreach, "an important outcome of the coalition's work is that we are doing more," Gaudette-Clark said. Even though HAWC is witnessing an increase in the number of high-risk cases, and "there have been more threats to lives lately, working with people earlier to get a safety plan in place helps save people's lives," She said. Robinson pointed out that responding to abuse is secondary prevention in public health parlance, but the goal is to work toward "preventing even the first occurrences of domestic abuse and violence."

Overall, Robinson said, the coalition and its many partner agencies, have helped many persons and groups evaluate "if the general tone with which we conduct every day business, whether in a church or in the city, contributes or detracts from movement toward transforming Gloucester into a 'Domestic Violence Free Zone.'"

To support domestic abuse awareness month, Mayor Carolyn Kirk proclaimed from the steps of Gloucester City Hall on Oct. 7 "all of us share in the responsibility to end interpersonal abuse; and we all must pursue the safety and the welfare of every family within the embrace of the community."

"We can only do this work together and need community effort," Gaudette-Clark confirmed. "And that is what is happening in Gloucester."

For more information, contact the coalition or HAWC through HAWC's Cape Ann Office at 5 Pleasant St., Gloucester, 978-283-8642.

This article is part of a regular health education column provided by the Gloucester Health Department.