Having guest speakers visit a Ross campus is always an honor, especially when those speakers are shedding light upon serious issues that our community is passionate about. Ross students, faculty, and staff are a caring and compassionate group of people, and that’s what makes our community great. In March, Leah Dryer from End Violent Encounters, or EVE, visited the Lansing campus to discuss the important issue of domestic violence and what EVE is doing to help survivors.
As future allied healthcare professionals, Ross students will have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of patients who may be facing domestic violence by being aware of the services available to those who need them. Dryer shared about the various services that EVE provides, like a 24-hour crisis line, counseling, children’s services, community education, temporary shelter, and more. She also discussed myths about domestic violence.
EVE was founded in 1977 as the Council Against Domestic Assault. As the services offered by the organization grew and their focus expanded to support survivors of many forms of violence, the name changed to reflect their mission. EVE is located in the Lansing area, though those who need help do not need to live in the area to receive services from EVE.
For Medical Assistant student Casey Miller, the presentations hit close to home. Miller shared: “My mom (before I was ever born) was in an abusive relationship, so it is a cause that’s near to my heart anyway. When my mom moved to Michigan, she actually stayed at EVE when it was still known as the Council Against Domestic Assault. It’s inspiring to know there are people and an organization advocating to end the violence. The statistics are scary, but it was also very educational to know that as an MA, I will have the power to help people who are experiencing domestic violence. It was reinforcing the idea that truly listening to patients, and for that matter, all people, can be the way to help them best.”
For more information about End Violent Encounters, visit their website at www.eveinc.org.