1. SERVING THE NEEDS OF MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN
WHO ARE VICTIMS OF
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

2. WHAT ARE THE MYTHS?
Alcohol, drug abuse, stress, and mental illness cause domestic violence.
It never
Happens to
Men!
Some people “ask” for it!
It does not really happen very often
It mostly happens in low income families.

3. What is Domestic Violence?
Domestic violence is
the use of assaultive
and / or coercive behaviors, used by adults or adolescents against their intimate partners
What does this mean?
How might these things manifest?
DV occurs when a an intimate partner, family member, partner, or ex partner attempts to physically or psychologically dominate another. It is important to note that DV can take place between cohabitants of a home, and/or non-married intimate partners. This is why, back in 2004, persons were so upset about Issue 1 – the language left out non-married individuals, who also experience DV. It has since been rectified. 3

4. TYPES OF ABUSE
Physical
Emotional
Sexual
Financial

5. VICTIM AND OFFENDER
WHO IS THE VICTIM
WHO IS THE OFFENDER

7. CYCLE OF VIOLENCE

9. CONTINUUM OF ABUSE

10. Abuse is both a continuum and a cycle.
Usually begins with verbal/emotional abuse/financial, and moves into physical, sexual, and deadly violence. Oftentimes, victims have been the recipients of non-physical abuse for some time prior to the first physical explosion.
Power and Control Exercise….

11. CONTINUUM OF LEAVING

12. WHY VICTIMS STAY Easier Fear Love Children Finances Shame Stigma
Other Reasons??

13. IMPACT ON CHILDREN THE GENERATIONAL CYCLE
Children learn to be adults from parents
Children learn morals and values from parents
Children grow up exhibiting the same problem solving skills as parents
Boys who watch their fathers hit their mothers are more likely to hit their own partners or spouses.
Girls who watch their fathers hit their mothers are more likely to tolerate, excuse, minimize or expect to be hit by their partners or spouses

14. WHAT MUST IT BE LIKE?

16. Results of Growing Up With DV
School,
Risky behavior
Self esteem
Health
Social
Emotional

17. SCHOOL more likely to drop out of school and fail to graduate.
college attendance rates are lower
miss class 30 percent more school
more likely to have behavioral problems
tend to have even higher degrees of behavioral problems

18. RISKY BEHAVIOR
much more likely to develop habits of smoking, drug use, and alcohol consumption
more likely to run away
tend to become more sexually active
much more likely to get pregnant
Studies show that teens may turn to sexual behavior as a way to gain acceptance and compensate for a supportive and nurturing family

19. HEALTH PROBLEMS
There is strong evidence that children growing up in dysfunctional households often suffer from long-term health problems including cancer, heart disease, anxiety disorders and early death
Some teens may develop sleeping and eating disorders and fall into depression as a consequence

20. SOCIAL INTERACTIONS
often do not learn how to solve problems with others and tend to overact to minor threats
tend to use denial and aggression as solutions and blame others for their problems
become more aggressive and violent
will try to keep their lives at home a secret in an attempt to fit in with their peers
can result in teens being unable to make trusting, lasting relationships, and it results in a high probability of their ending up in violent relationships themselves.

21. EMOTIONAL TURMOIL can cause a teenager to feel lonely and isolated
may feel pushed into adulthood at an early age and must face larger responsibilities in caring for siblings.
can greatly decrease an adolescent's self-esteem
the quality of parent-child relationships can directly influence a child's self-confidence
may have conflicts of loyalty toward one parent over the other and withdraw from both parents

22. AND THE OTHER FAMILY MEMBER

23. HOW TO HELP SOMEONE IN NEED?
GET THEM TO REACH OUT FOR HELP
Go with the person to a support group
Dial the hotline number for them
Provide some information
Tell them you heard this talk
DO NOT TRY TO BE THE SOCIAL WORKER OR SHELTER
HELP WITH SAFETY PLANNING

24. HOW CAN BWS HELP? SHELTERS COURT ADVOCATES FAMILY STABILITY
CHILDREN WHO WITNESS VIOLENCE
OUTREACH

25. Least Invasive – Most Invasive
Outreach
Hotline
Support Groups
Legal Advocacy
Family Stability
Crisis Shelter
Transitional Shelter
Scattered Site Housing

26. HOW CAN YOU HELP? BECOME A VOLUNTEER DONATIONS OF HOTLINE YARD WORK
OFFICE WORK
CHILD INTERACTIONS
DONATIONS OF
GENTLY USED HOUSEHOLD ITEMS
CLEANING SUPPLIES
FRESH OR BOXED FOODS
MEAT
PAPER GOODS (TOILET PAPER, PAPER TOWELS)

27. HOW CAN YOU HELP? ADOPT A FAMILY DURING THE HOLIDAYS
BECOME A FINANCIAL DONOR
COMMIT TO MAKING MONTHLY DONATIONS AT THE TIME YOU PAY YOUR BILLS
MAKE A DONATION IN HONOR OF A FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER
HOST A PARTY AND TAKE DONATIONS
ENCOURAGE YOUR KIDS TO PLAN A SPECIAL EVENT RAISING MONEY FOR THE SHELTER