IRVINE : Domestic Violence Seminar to Be Held

Therapists, law enforcement officials, academics and lawyers will gather Sept. 18 for a half-day seminar on domestic violence. The conference, which is open to the public, will explore topics ranging from domestic violence prevention to shelters for battered women.

“We want to show ways that (domestic violence) can be stopped,” said Linda Enochs, spokeswoman for Soroptimist International of Irvine, which is sponsoring the seminar.

The program will begin with a lecture by Geraldine Butts Stahly, an associate professor of psychology at Cal State San Bernardino and an expert in domestic violence. She will discuss “victimology,” the ways some people become targets of family violence.

Also featured will be a couple whose relationship was rocked by domestic violence but are now “living day to day, trying to keep the violence from recurring,” Enochs said.

Three workshops will be held, but because of time constraints, the public will be able to attend only one of the three. The first one covers counseling services and temporary shelters for battered women. It will also look at high school health programs that teach students how to identify domestic violence.

The second workshop will focus on legal issues. The session will feature talks by Police Chief Charles S. Brobeck and Laguna Beach attorney Marilyn W. Mirano, who heads the Orange County Domestic Violence Council.

The third workshop will provide people with information on ways to prevent domestic violence.

The price of the seminar is $15 for Soroptimist members and $20 for non-members. It will begin at 9 a.m. at the Hyatt Regency Irvine. For more information, call (714) 551-6553.