Children’s deaths: Tip of the iceberg

Re: “Connecting the dots in family violence cases,” comment, Jan. 3. The tragedy that unfolded in an Oak Bay apartment reflects a culmination of many factors unique to this family and yet common to many families and homes in our communities.

It’s almost as though we could start a campaign “Over Here Too” for the many children and families who experience or witness domestic violence every day in Canada.

I have been involved in efforts to secure funds for domestic-violence services in Victoria for a few years. Core provincial funds are directed to the most acute situations — which cannot be argued against — but inadequate funds are directed to other domestic-violence prevention or treatment services.

Instead, agencies continue to deliver domestic-violence services funded by annual grants and donations — simply because kids and families are at their doors seeking professional counselling and support services. For most families in B.C., the cost of private services is prohibitive.

The Jan. 3 commentary provides an excellent analysis of the relationship between public and private matters. One can only hope and demand that the B.C. government lead the way by providing core funding for domestic-violence services at multiple points of entry (community-based, institutional, cross-sectoral) to support families to break the cycle of violence and to reduce the risk of future tragedies such as that which befell Sarah Cotton and her children.

Patti Sullivan Victoria