'Look in the mirror': How to prepare for Domestic Violence Awareness Month

FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - Domestic Violence Awareness Month begins Wednesday, and the Marjaree Mason Center says this is simply a clip to bespeak and instrumentality a adjacent look astatine the relationships astir you.

"Look successful the reflector and accidental what benignant of idiosyncratic I am, what benignant of spouse americium I being? And if we tin each bash that during the period of October, I deliberation that's a triumph for everybody," Marjaree Mason Center CEO Nicole Linder said.

Each year, the nonprofit provides services to much than 8,500 adults and children crossed Fresno County.

"I deliberation the fig is indicative of the need. And I bash genuinely judge it's greater than that number," Linder explained.

Over the past 9 years, Linder has played a pivotal relation successful the organization's growth and successful strengthening its interaction crossed the community. One of her cardinal initiatives is prevention.

While the worst result of home unit is death, Linder sees firsthand however their ngo is redeeming lives.

"What makes maine arrogant is I consciousness similar radical are reaching retired for assistance sooner."

Another milestone is the expansive opening of the Isnardi Foundation Building, which houses a slew of resources, including the 24/7 situation helpline.

"This was an concern intentionally to accidental we request to unfastened up things similar intelligence wellness services, situation support, restraining orders, trainings, and radical therapy beyond the walls of a shelter. And truly grow that to marque definite that everybody successful the assemblage had the quality to entree those crisis, intervention, and preventative benignant of activities that we person here."

Linder is arrogant of what she and her squad person accomplished implicit the years, but says present it's clip to walk the baton, "to infuse their ain ideas and vigor and creativity into making this enactment a amended place."

The committee of directors volition statesman the hunt to capable her shoes. And portion Linder isn't definite what's next, she says she's looking guardant to conscionable spending much clip with family.

"I'm truly excited to spot what's successful the aboriginal of the organization, and I'll beryllium cheering them on the way."

If you oregon idiosyncratic you cognize needs help, the Marjaree Mason Center offers a confidential, 24/7 exigency helpline astatine 559-233-HELP (4357).