Turning Point Advocacy Services is hosting events to help people recognize domestic abuse.Domestic abuse, or intimate partner violence, has an impact on families and communities. While the abuser-victim cycle is often part of a generations-long family legacy, abuse can happen to anyone at any point in their lives.“The best thing we can do as parents, friends, co-workers, or bystanders, is recognize the signs of abuse and take the proper actions,” said Jolynn Houchins, executive director for Turning Point.Houchins is one of the speakers who will be leading a discussion about how to recognize domestic abuse at a free presentation from 6-7 p.m. Tuesday, April 16, at Scenic Regional Library in Warrenton, 912 S. Highway 47; and Thursday, July 18, at Scenic Regional Library Hermann, 601 Market St. Register online at scenicregional.org at the library, or by calling the library.Parents are encouraged to attend with their dating-age children.Domestic violence is a pattern of intimidation and control by one intimate partner against another. Domestic violence is also known as intimate partner violence or relationship abuse. Domestic violence includes physical violence, sexual violence, threats and emotional abuses.Missouri ranks seventh in the nation in the number of female victims of homicide. Most of those deaths were caused by an intimate partner.“As an organization we see domestic and sexual violence at its worst. It’s a community problem that’s 100 percent preventable if the community works to stop it from happening,” said Houchins. “By learning more, you just might save the life of someone you know.”The nonprofit organization provides a 24/7 hotline, emergency shelter, court advocacy, safety planning, economic empowerment, counseling and resource education to victims of domestic violence, sexual abuse and sex trafficking. For help, call the hotline at 888-873-7233. For more information or to donate, call 636-456-1186, visit turningpointdvs.com, or find Turningpointwmo on Facebook.Turning Point