"Straight Talk on Domestic Violence"
Information
- What is Domestic Violence?
- Abuse by one person in a current or former intimate relationship in order to maintain power and control over the other person. The abuse can take many forms, including physical, sexual, verbal, social, economic, emotional, psychological and environmental.
Domestic violence is a learned behavior, which often repeats and escalates. The behavior is coercive and targeted to victims of all ages, races, ethnicity, cultures, sexual orientations, religions, economic levels and educational levels. Domestic violence creates an environment of fear and intimidation.
Domestic violence is most often targeted at women. Children are also severely impacted by domestic violence, witnessing the abuse of their parent and/ or being abused themselves.
- How Can I Help?
- To help someone you know:
- Do not blame he victim for the perpetrator's abusive behavior.
- Remain patient open-minded and supportive.
- Encourage the person to ask for help and give them this information.
- For for information, call our Crisis Line at (360) 432-1212.
- Domestic Violence is a crime.
- To help yourself:
- Seek support from people you trust.
- Contact Turning Pointe Domestic Violence Services to learn more about Domestic Violence and safety planning.
- Plan an escape route for you and your children to use during the crisis.
- Realize that once a pattern of abuse is established it will get worse over time.
- Understand that danger increases after you leave an abuser. It is important to form a safety plan.
- What Can I Do?
- Know the Facts:
- Examine your own beliefs and behaviors toward women. Cultivate a respectful attitude toward women in your family and at your work.
- Be involved, volunteer time, money, and in-kind services to Turning Pointe Domestic Violence Services.
- Don't tolerate behavior or speech that belittles, degrades, or controls women.
- Write letters taking a stand against domestic violence. Send them to newspaper editors or companies that promote violence against women.
- Educate yourself, call Turning Pointe for information about how you can help.
- Support a friend or coworker on the journey out of violence.
Domestic Violence is not consensual. It is a pattern of behavior used by an individual to establish and maintain coercive control over the intimate partner. Domestic violence consists of physical, sexual, psychological, and/ or emotional abuse. Over time, the abusive behavior may become more frequent and severe. Acts of domestic violence are committed by both adults and adolescents.
Individual Action:
- Workplace Action:
- Request that your workplace human resources policies support victims at work.
- Call Turning Pointe for domestic violence training at your workplace.
- Use newsletters articles, email, posters, memos, and paycheck inserts to raise awareness and educate employees about domestic violence and resources in the company that can help.
- Remember: "There's no excuse for domestic violence."
- Legislative Action:
- Be aware of bills that address the issue of violence.
- Know your elected officials position on domestic violence issues.
- Contact your state legislators.
- Call the Legislative hotline--(800) 562-6000, TDD--(800) 635-9993.
- Email State Representatives and Senators at www.leg.wa.gov
- Email other elected officials at www.access.wa.gov
- Support increased funding for services to victims of domestic violence, to find jobs, housing, and a way out of the violence.
- Support victimless prosecution.
- What are the Facts?
- Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women in the United Sates.
- 40% - 60% of men abusing women also abuse children.
- One in four women will be the victim of domestic violence at some time in her life.
- Every 15 seconds in this country, a women is beaten and nearly 4,000 women are killed by their partners every year.
- Research at one program indicated that close to 100% of the children involved, whether they are abused themselves or not, suffer from Post-traumatic Stress Syndrome.
Turning Pointe 24 Hour Crisis Line (360) 432-1212
Washington State D.V. Hot-line 1-800-562-6025