Queens Borough President Helen Marshall and her Task Force on Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Child Maltreatment and Elder Abuse will hold a series of conferences on four consecutive Fridays on domestic violence-related issues, beginning October 9th at Borough Hall.



The conferences, part of the designation of October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, all begin at 10 a.m. in Room 213 and conclude at noon.



Marshall noted that the Queens Family Justice Center has served more than 7,600 clients and 786 children since opening in July of 2008. “And, there have been eight victims of family-related homicides from domestic violence in Queens in 2009,” said Borough President Marshall. Citywide, the Police Department responds to a daily average of 600 incidents. Marshall also said that the department conducted more than 72,000 home visits in 2008.



Queens Borough Hall is located at 120-55 Queens Boulevard. Mass transit users can take the E or F subway lines to the Union Turnpike station or one of numerous buses to the Union Turnpike/Queens Boulevard stop.



The schedule for the conferences is as follows:



Friday, October 9th: Domestic Violence & the LGBTQ Community; presenter Darlene Torres, Education & Hotline Coordinator NYC Gay & Lesbian Anti-Violence Project.



Friday, October 16th: Domestic Violence and Elder Abuse; presenter Chan Jamoona, founder and director of United Hindu Cultural Council & Senior Center.

Friday, October 23rd: Teen Dating Violence and Substance Abuse, presenter Nancy Diaz, CASAC, Domestic Violence Service Coordinator



Friday, October 30th: Impact of Domestic Violence on Children & How We Can Help Them; presenter Phyliss Hyatt, LCSW-R.