October is Domestic Violence Prevention and Awareness Month

Hello SGVPA Folx,

It's that time of the year again to wear our purple ribbons and advocate!

Intimate partner violence affects millions of people in the United States every year according to the CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/intimate-partner-violence/about/index.html

My journey into the psychology and therapeutic world started out at the Santa Cruz County Women's Crisis Support Center - Defensa de Mujeres. I became a volunteer for their organization and completed their 100 hour volunteership training in 2005. I was introduced to this topic through advocacy in my AP English class in high school so when the volunteer opportunity arose I was ready to do my part. Both having a personal interest and an advocacy interest in domestic violence I have been able to incorporate this topic into every year of training and continue to assist this population in a therapeutic setting. I have been wearing my purple ribbon for advocacy and awareness since 2003. Please feel free to share these resources with friends, family, colleagues, clients, and community members. Intimate partner violence reaches into every socioeconomic range, ethnicity, sexuality, gender, and level of education. We can be safe spaces and strongholds for our community.

A Call To Action Message From Peace Over Violence

Please check out the resources through the Peace Over Violence website. You can get information on the type of abuse, the cycle of violence and power and control, safety planning, myths, and guides for friends and families. https://www.peaceoverviolence.org/domestic-violence

Check out the domestic violence awareness month toolkit from Stop the Hurt resources both in English and Spanish. https://stopthehurt.org/

Together We Can Spread Awareness

Are you interested in learning more or getting more training for intimate partner violence? I will provide some websites with free and pay-for-service information.

https://www.womensv.org/domestic-violence-advocate-training

https://safeandtogetherinstitute.com/core-training

https://www.dvawareness.org/free-materials

https://alternativestoviolence.org/help/free-training/

Here are some resources for specific populations:

For the hearing impaired: https://www.thedeafhotline.org/

For the Native American population: https://strongheartshelpline.org/

For the LGBTQIA2S+ population: https://www.tnlr.org/en/24-hour-hotline/

An Intimate Partner Violence Prevention Resource booklet: https://www.cdc.gov/violence-prevention/media/pdf/resources-for-action/IPV-Prevention-Resource_508.pdf

Domestic Violence in Same Sex Couples and Gender Minorities

Four Category System - LA LGBT Center's breakdown of categories of relationship violence:

Primary Victims, Defending Victims, Secondary Aggressors, and Primary Aggressors

https://www.calhealthreport.org/2017/06/21/push-fair-treatment-los-angeles-lgbt-center-creates-new-categories-relationship-violence/

Gender-Based Domestic Violence Information, Intimate Partner Violence affects all genders and gender minorities: https://interactofwake.org/resources/gender-based/

Hotlines:

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE)

LA County's Domestic Violence 24-hour Support Services: 1-800-978-3600

LGBTQIA2S+ Domestic Violence support: 1-800-832-1901

StrongHearts Native Helpline: Call or text 1-844-7NATIVE (762-8483) 

Domestic Violence Resource Center: 503-469-8620

Legal Services:

Peace Over Violence: https://www.peaceoverviolence.org/domestic-violence

The People Concern: https://www.thepeopleconcern.org/sojourn/ - (310) 264-6644

Legal Self Help: https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/restraining-orders

Legal Aid: https://lafla.org/get-help/