ATU-Ozark hosts domestic violence awareness event

Cara Tongier with the Crisis Intervention Center in Fort Smith will speak Thursday, Feb. 16, at the Arkansas Tech University-Ozark Campus to discuss domestic violence, the most common crime in the United States.

The public is invited to attend the 10 to 11a.m. event in the Student Services Conference Center. It is hosted by Arkansas Tech-Ozark’s Career Pathways Initiative (CPI), a program that assists low-income parents meet educational and career-training goals that, ultimately, lead to a high-demand, high-wage career.

“Domestic abuse is unfortunately a problem that some of the people in our community face, but we’re hopeful that teaching them and students preventative measures will decrease this problem,” said CPI Director Justina Buck.

Tongier, who serves as the prevention program manager, plans to focus on “warning signs and how to help others that are going through it.”

“It’s important for us to bring to light these dark topics,” she said. “Arkansas ranks among the top three states for domestic homicides.”

Tongier said that, while domestic violence also affects men and children, which she will address, too, “every nine seconds in the United States a woman is abused.”

“It’s important to know how to help these victims,” she said. “Many times they will drop out of school, they will miss work and classes, and we need to know the best way to approach our friends, family members, classmates and coworkers about this sensitive topic.
 
“It will take people speaking up for it to end.”
 
More information about the event is available by contacting Buck at (479) 508-3347, or [email protected]