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How You Can Help |
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See ways for: Individuals • Employers • Parishes
For Individuals
If you think a friend or family member is being abused...
- Call the hotline 1.800.799.SAFE to discuss your questions and concerns.
- See the National Domestic Violence Hotline's tips for how to help a friend or family member you think is being abused.
- Learn about domestic violence and the signs of emotional, physical and sexual abuse.
- Encourage him or her to participate in activities outside the relationship with friends or family.
- Be supportive and non-judgmental. Listen to your friend or family member and respect his/her decisions. Encourage them to talk with people who can provide help and guidance.
- Let them know that the abuse is not their fault and reassure them that they are not alone.
- If you have a high-school aged friend you think is experiencing dating violence, check out this information from LoveIsRespect.org.
Volunteer
- Consider training to be a Hotline Advocate and help answer the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
- Help host drives for cell phones or other items needed by a local shelter.
- If you work in the fields of counseling, law or health care, volunteer some of your professional services to help people who have been victims of abuse.
- Contact a shelter in your area for other volunteer opportunities they may have.
Other ways to get involved
- Talk to your children about healthy relationships, respect and dating.
- Make sure that your school, work place, and faith community have information about domestic violence (its signs, national and local resources) as well as the hotline posted in the women's bathrooms. Also ask your doctor, local clinic, dentist, etc. to put up a poster and have brochures available in their lobbies.
- Join the Millions Voices Campaign to End Domestic Violence in America.
- Sign up to recycle your old cell phones, laptops, printer cartridges, digital cameras, etc. through Recycle for Domestic Violence. Every time you send in recyclables, they send money to support the National Domestic Violence Hotline and you help take good care of our earth.
For Employers
Domestic violence is not just bad for individuals, it's bad for business and affects employee performance as well as your liability. Studies by the American Bar Association Commission on Domestic Violence showed that 30-53% of employed victims of domestic violence lose their jobs due at least in part to the abuse. 96-98% of employed domestic violence victims experienced problems at work related to the abuse and 67% reported that the perpetrator came to the workplace.1
For more information about domestic violence and the work place, visit the Pennsylvania Coalition against Domestic Violence and download the Tips for Employers and/or Impact of Domestic Violence on the workplace.
- Know the signs of abuse. Besides obvious injuries, there are many indications that an employee may be suffering abuse. For instance, do you see an employee wearing clothing which is out of place for the season, such as long sleeves in summer? Is an previously punctual employee starting to become uncharacteristically late for work? Is an employee requesting special accommodations such as leaving early or is he/she unable to travel for work?
- Learn about local domestic violence programs and the resources they provide.
- Post information and hotlines. Make sure the national hotline is posted in the workplace, especially in the women's bathrooms. Also post information about national and local programs.
- Learn how to recognize the signs that an employee may be an abuser.
For Parishes
- Be prepared. Recognize that as a pastor or religious leader you may be the first person from whom a victim of domestic violence seeks help. Know the signs and how to respond.
- Post information about domestic violence, types and signs of abuse, local resources and shelters, as well as hotlines in your church and parish center and on your website. If possible, have pamphlets and cards with the national hotline available as well.
- Educate your parishioners about domestic violence. Besides having information posted, consider hosting a discussion night or bringing the issue up in your homily. Talk about what makes a relationship healthy and what signs of unhealthy relationships, controlling or abusive behavior are. Make an opportunity to talk about how "for better or for worse" does not mean you have to stay with an abusive partner.
- Know the laws in your state about confidentiality and mandatory reporting. If an abused person comes to you, make sure you let them know what you are required to report before he/she tells you the details of the abuse.
- Encourage your pro life groups to address domestic violence in their publications and activities. A good place to start is by observing Domestic Violence Awareness month in October and ask your pro life group to plan a couple activities and distribute information.
- Host drives for cell phones or other items needed by the shelter in your area.
- Resources: Read the statement by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops on domestic violence: When I Call for Help.
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Intimate Partner Violence Information
Resources, Posters, Etc.
Looking for resources to post in your workplace, school or parish or tips for awareness raising events? Check out the following sites or visit your state's coalition against domestic violence.
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