FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

September 15, 2026

Orlando VA Marks Domestic Violence Awareness Month with Events Focused on Healthy Relationships, Safety 

Orlando, Fla. — The Orlando VA Healthcare System (OVAHCS) will recognize Domestic Violence Awareness Month this October with events promoting personal safety, healthy relationships, and access to support for Veterans, families, caregivers, and staff.

A highlight of the month will be the Healthy Relationships Workshop and Resource Fair, hosted by the Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Program on Oct. 19 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the auditorium at the Orlando VA Medical Center at Lake Nona.

The event will bring together VA programs and community partners for an afternoon of interactive workshops, wellness activities, and resource sharing. Attendees can participate in sessions throughout the event or stop by to connect with organizations serving Veterans and their families.

All are encouraged to RSVP in advance for planning purposes using the QR code on the event flyer.

 Featured sessions include:

• 11:30 a.m. — Personal Safety Class: The Orlando Police Department will share practical strategies participants can use to enhance their personal safety.
• 12:30 p.m. — Healthy Relationships Seminar: The Victim Service Center will explore characteristics of healthy relationships, communication, and ways to recognize when additional support may be needed.
• 1:30 p.m. — Yoga: Orlando VA Whole Health will lead a yoga session focused on wellness, mindfulness, and self-care.

“Domestic Violence Awareness Month allows us to empower Veterans, families and our community with knowledge and tools that can help build safer, healthier relationships,” said Hannah Irby, LCSW, Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Program coordinator. “Whether someone joins us for a workshop, tries yoga, or stops by to explore available services, we want them to leave feeling informed, connected, and supported.”

Activities will continue throughout October, including Wear Purple Day on Oct. 22. Veterans and staff are encouraged to wear purple as a visible show of support for those impacted by domestic violence. Participants may send photos of themselves or their teams wearing purple to Hannah.Irby@va.gov.

The Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Program provides confidential support, education, and connections to VA and community services for Veterans and others impacted by intimate partner violence.

For more information about October events or the Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Program, contact Hannah Irby, LCSW, at Hannah.Irby@va.gov or 407-631-0478.

For more information, please visit: VA Orlando Health Care | Veterans Affairs, subscribe to receive email updates by clicking here, like us on Facebook at: @OVAHCS, follow us on Instagram at: @OVAHCS, or on Twitter at: @OVAHCS.

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Established in October 2006, the Orlando VA Healthcare System (OVAHCS) was designated a 1a facility (most complex) in 2021, with more than 5,660 employees and an annual budget of $1.5B and serves more than 131,000 Veterans in Central Florida. The Orlando VA Medical Center at Lake Nona provides outpatient, inpatient and emergency services. Lake Nona’s 65-acre medical campus encompasses 134 acute inpatient beds, providing complex Medical/Surgical/Mental Health specialty care, advanced diagnostic services, and a large multispecialty outpatient clinic, as well as a 120-bed Community Living Center, two Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Programs/Domiciliaries (60-beds located at the Lake Nona Campus and 58-beds at the Lake Baldwin Campus). Outpatient services are provided at a Health Care Center in Viera, a Multispecialty Community Based Outpatient Clinic in Daytona Beach, Lake Baldwin and five Community-Based Outpatient Clinics located in Clermont, Kissimmee, Deltona, Palm Bay and Tavares.