Healthy community focus of Healthy Relationships Summit

The Washington Public Library will host the Healthy Relationships Summit on Tuesday, Oct. 14, in response to October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Mayor Sandra Johnson said the idea for the summit grew out of a conversation she had with staff from Domestic Violence Intervention Program (DVIP) in Iowa City. In that discussion, she said that domestic violence is misunderstood and people who report domestic violence are stigmatized.

Johnson then talked with library director Debbie Stanton about what could be done in the community to address domestic violence. They decided to change the focus of the topic. Instead of pointing fingers at the people involved in domestic violence situations to talk about what healthy relationships are all about.

The summit includes different sessions throughout the afternoon and evening of Oct. 14, beginning at noon with a Learn @ Lunch Domestic Violence panel. The panel will include staff of DVIP, the Department of Human Services, Washington County Sheriff's Department, and a survivor of domestic violence. Child care will be available at the sessions. The Washington branch of the Association of American University Women (AAUW) will provide refreshments.

Area organizations will be present at an open house from 1 to 1:30 p.m. where more information may be obtained.

All age groups will be involved in summit activities.

From 1:30 to 2:30, the library will show the film "Making Marriage Work," based on the bestselling book "The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work" by Dr. John Gottman.

From 4 to 5 p.m., librarian Jenisa Hanson will help children in grades one through five make a friendship quilt to learn about healthy friendships.

Teen librarian LeAnn Kunz will be showing a young adult movie, "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," at 4 p.m., which will be followed by a group discussion about the film and the healthy and unhealthy relationships highlighted in the story.

To wrap up the day, children's librarian Jolisa Weidner will be hosting a family "pajama" storytime from 6:30 to 7 p.m. all about different kinds of families.

Throughout the month, Washington County residents are encouraged to wear purple to support survivors of domestic violence. The AAUW has put together purple ribbons that will be available for people to wear to show their support.

The DVIP works in Iowa, Johnson, Cedar, Washington, Henry, Van Buren, Lee and Des Moines counties. There is a 24-hour crisis line at 1-800-373-1043. The program provides support for victims of domestic violence and their loved ones. In one year's time, DVIP has received about 18,000 crisis phone calls and provided 8,000 nights of safe shelter.

Nationally, one in three women and one in four men have experienced physical violence by an intimate partner within their lifetime. Domestic violence affects everyone.

"Healthy relationships make healthy communities," Stanton wrote in a press release, "and it's important that the residents of Washington County show their support to end domestic violence and build healthy communities for today and tomorrow."