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Councilman Greg Stanton's
Letter to the Editor
Ahwatukee Foothills News
Oct. 25, 2000
Thank you to the Ahwatukee Foothills News and reporter Adriane Hopkins for the Oct. 11 article titled "Police Notice Increase of Domestic Violence in Ahwatukee Foothills." As the article made clear, no community is immune to this terrible problem.
The tragedy of domestic violence crosses all socio-economic, cultural, ethnic and educational boundaries. This year alone in the city of Phoenix, 17 domestic violence deaths and more than 7,000 domestic violence assaults have occurred. Nationwide, the numbers are even more staggering. Every nine seconds a woman in the United States is physically abused, and domestic violence accounts for more than 50 percent of female homicides.
Helping victims of domestic violence has been a top priority of the City Council in recent years. Thanks to the efforts of Councilwoman Peggy Bilsten and former Councilman Sal DiCiccio, Phoenix opened the Family Advocacy Center in August of 1999. The center, located at 2120 N. Central Ave., provides a single location where domestic violence or sexual abuse victims receive a wide range of services in a safe, comfortable, private and confidential environment.
Police officers, counselors, sexual assault nurse examiners and other professionals are located on-site at the Family Advocacy Center to help minimize the trauma experienced by the victim, while enhancing investigation and prosecution efforts. Case management and counseling services also are available, and the center helps victims with their legal needs, such as the ability to obtain orders of protection through a video link with the Municipal Court.
I am proud of the innovative programs the city of Phoenix has created to help domestic violence victims. This issue will always remain a top priority for me.
For assistance or more information about the Family Advocacy Center, call Center Director Dee Wheeler-Cronin at (602) 534-3072 or my office at (602) 262-7491.
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