St. George’s DOVE Center was awarded a $1,250 grant from Three Corners Women’s Giving Circle to support the continuation of a college-accredited self-protection course. The grant will specifically be used to cover tuition and fees for DOVE clients, make course materials available to all clients, and help support the purchase of safety equipment for skills practices. The course focuses on increasing personal competency and effectiveness through a combination of classroom time and practice sessions in the gym.
“We made this grant to DOVE Center because the objectives of the Self-Protection course reflect our mission to support programs that enhance women’s education, safety, and health,” said Stephanie Martini, founder the Three Corners Women’s Giving Circle. “The fact that the course is also open to the community means our grant can help with the prevention of domestic violence in the whole community.”
The Utah Department of Health reports that rape occurs in Utah at a higher rate than the national average. Additionally, 43 percent of homicides in Utah are related to domestic violence compared to a national average of around 30 percent. In any given month, the state of Utah averages one domestic-violence-related homicide and three-domestic-violence related suicides.
DOVE Center reports that Utah statistics on violence against women motivated its decision to collaborate with the Personal Safety Coalition to make the self-protection course available to clients, all of whom are survivors of domestic or sexual violence, as well as to the community at large. The hope is that the course experience will strengthen the resolve and ability for individuals to avoid and leave unhealthy relationships and establish healthy relationships instead.
“We assist survivors of violence every day,” said Adele Pincock, director of community outreach programs for DOVE Center. “Our knowledge of these statewide statistics, combined with the knowledge of the personal experiences of our clients, strengthens our resolve to provide comprehensive education on personal safety. Financial support from groups like Three Corners Women’s Giving Circle makes it possible for our clients to access this life-changing, life-saving class.”
The self-protection course is offered each semester at Dixie State University. The next course begins August 22. For more information on the course, visit dovecenter.org/education/personal-safety.
To learn more about DOVE’s awareness and prevention programs, submit an inquiry to outreach@dovecenter.org or call the DOVE Center office at (435) 628-1204.
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