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09/06/2017 10:30 AMOn Tuesday, Sept. 19, the Henry Carter Hull Library (HCH) will host a special event for health care providers about how to combat domestic violence and intimate partner violence.
The event starts at 6 p.m. in the community room at the library. The event will be run by Jillian Gilchrest MSW, the director of health professional outreach with the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence(CCADV).
“I’ve done about 70 of these classes in the last year,” said Gilchrest.
Gilchrest said her presentation will cover what domestic violence is, its potential health effects, and how health care professionals can screen for domestic violence.
“They’ll be a background on what domestic violence looks like, it’s not just physical,” said Gilchrest. Emotional and verbal abuse also are forms of domestic violence.
Gilchrest will also speak of the differences between domestic violence and intimate partner violence, which most people end up lumping into one category. Gilchrest gave examples of domestic violence as violence that could occur between a son and a mother, or child abuse. Intimate partner violence, Gilchrest described as occuring between a spouse or romantic partner.
Part of the reason Gilchrest said she holds these talks is due to the pervasiveness of domestic violence in the United States and in Connecticut. According to the latest statistics on the CCADV website www.ctcadv.org, 39,661 victims in Connecticut sought help from the 18 different services that comprise the CCADV.
“Those are just the cases we know about, that people actually sought help. The real number is probably higher,” Gilchrest said, adding that Connecticut experiences “about 14 to 16 fatalities a year” due to domestic and intimate partner violence.
The event is marketed toward healthcare workers; however, the event is open to the public. Those interested in attending should contact Gilchrest. There are still spots available, and Gilchrest said the number of spots or the event is “as many as can fit in the room.”
Gilchrest said those in the Clinton area who may need help can contact the new Horizons Community center in Middletown. The center has a 24-hour emergency hotline in English as well as Spanish. The center also offers one-on-one counseling for free.
“This is the first time in recent years we’ve done this particular topic,” said HCH Adult Program Coordinator Sarah Borgnis-Tobin, noting that she hopes the library can set up similar talks in the future.
To register for the class, call Jillian Gilchrest at 860-282-7899. CCADV’s 24 hours, confidential, and toll-free domestic violence hotline is 888-774-2900.