Domestic Violence Awareness Program

Domestic violence causes far more pain than the visible marks of bruises and scars. It is devastating to be abused by someone that you love and think loves you in return. It is estimated that approximately 3 million incidents of domestic violence are reported each year in the United States
~Dianne Fienstein (American Senator)

Today in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness month program , we had two speakers: Charlene Dimas-Peinado from Intercommunity Child Guidance and Barbara Samperi from The Exchange Club.

Charlene Dimas- Peinado has been honored by the Soroptimist of Pico Riviera as a Woman of Distinction and received the Woman of the Year Award for 2009. She works closely in counseling, supervising and visiting children who have been abused or neglected. As a pyschologist with double masters she is a woman with a calling.

Barbara Samperi has been a parent aide working with The Exchange Club for 15 years. She is involved in the Downey Unified Board of Education and lives in Downey. She works with the parents of the children who are referred to her by case managers. She guides and teaches parenting skills to create a safe and healthy home life.

Both ladies were able to share with us some stories of the people they work with...

One woman had 7 children from 5 different fathers. She was given notice the home she was renting was going into foreclosure and reached out for help. When they came in they found her living situation was horrendous. The mattress her child slept on had a nest of mice, even the microwave was overrun with cockroaches . Every nook and cranny was filled with pests. They were able to find her a safe, clean place to live where she is able to take care of her family.

A young girl of 16 had her child taken away from her due to neglect. They came in to talk to her and see what was causing her to ignore her child. The young girl was a victim of sexual abuse by her father and was put in the foster care system. Switching from home to home in the system , she never found the connection and love she needed. She ended up in a relationship with an abusive male with whom she had her child and then he left. She was depressed and had suffered severe trauma that she hadn't resolved. Added to that she had a learning disability that had gone unnoticed. She didn't know how to show love for her child or take care of her because she had never learned these parenting skills. Through their help she was able to receive treatment for her own trauma and learn how to care for her toddler.

For anyone interested in reading more about child abuse and neglect, SI Downey members have recommended the novels Kindness of Strangers by Katrine Little and The Glass Caste by Jeannette Walls.

Contributions By: Sonal Mundhra
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