Effort to protect young women from domestic violence, before they become victims

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - Sil Lai Abrams was just 22 years old when she got into a violent relationship that lasted five years.

“I grew up in a home with a father that was very dominating,” Abrams said, “I remember saying to myself when I was 15, ‘I am never going to end up like my mother.’”

But after dropping out of high school and running away, that is where she ended up.

She finally got out of her abusive relationship, and is now a nationally-renowned domestic violence inspirational speaker and writer. She appeared in Springfield on Thursday for the Through Her Eyes Conference to raise awareness about the issue.

“No matter what you've been through, no matter how far you've fallen, you can always rebuild your life. You don't have to live your life chained to someone who abuses you,” Abrams said.

Ja'Net Smith works with girls that fall into this category in Springfield, but says any young girl could end up a victim.

“When they are looking for that support that's not there, when they are looking for that acceptance from someone, I think it does put girls at risk,” said Smith, who works for the Terry Thomas Girls Program.

More women are injured by domestic violence incidents than in car accidents, muggings, and rapes combined, and this year, there is a push to identify young girls who may be at risk, before it is too late.

“I think education in our public school system is imperative, because young people are not growing up with healthy models of what a relationship is,” Abrams said.

“When you look at reality TV for instance, that's what a lot of young people are looking up to as what a relationship looks like.”

Abrams said that the goal is empowering young women to know that they are better than the controlling, violent relationships they have found themselves in.