Human Options’ Virtual Fall Event
Human Options will host its first-ever virtual fundraising event, the annual Fall Event, on October 15 at 12 p.m. to ignite social change on the subject of childhood trauma. The free event will center around a conversation with Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, California Surgeon General, and aims to raise $250,000 in critical funds through sponsorships and donations to serve parents and their children on their journey of healing through Human Options’ relationship violence programs.
This year, COVID-19 restrictions have created the perfect storm for spikes in relationship violence between intimate partners and families with stay-at-home mandates, the financial stress of unemployment, school closures, and more—victims have been separated from the people and resources they need most.
In Orange County, family dispute and child custody dispute calls have also increased to 24% and 30% respectively since the COVID-19 outbreak. Relationship violence calls have increased 25% across the county when compared with the same period last year, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, MD, MPH, FA is an award-winning physician, researcher and advocate dedicated to changing the way our society responds to one of the most serious, expensive, and widespread public health crises of our time: childhood trauma. She was appointed as California’s first-ever Surgeon General by Governor Gavin Newsom in January 2019. Her professional experience gives voice to the thousands of women and children across America facing relationship violence and abuse, including here in Orange County.
Human Options reached over 8,000 community members through education and prevention last year, provided nearly 500 individuals and families with a safe home through the emergency shelter and transitional housing program, served over 1,400 individuals through community-based programs, and responded to more than 4,800 callers providing immediate crisis support, information and referrals through the 24-hour hotline.
The event is free to register. Donations are encouraged to meet goal of raising critical funds to support those affected by relationship violence. Sponsorship opportunities begin at $1,500. Click here to learn more. To make a gift or learn more about the Fall Event, please visit humanoptions.org/FallEvent2020.
Human Options continues to encourage victims to call their 24-hour hotline at 1-877-854-3594 to access shelters and other supportive services, including therapists and counselors. If anyone is in imminent danger or have a physical emergency, call 911. Additionally, Human Options provides immediate assistance and supportive services at several walk-in Family Resource Centers located throughout the county. For a list of locations and contact info, click here. For more information about Human Options, please visit humanoptions.org/FallEvent2020.
