Dating Violence Awareness Month
Starting the Conversation at Home
Youth are constantly receiving message about relationships – from TV shows, music, movies, social media, and their peers. With the passing of Senate Bill 9 during the past legislative session – which requires public schools to provide education about dating violence, sexual violence, and child abuse – youth are gaining the opportunity to learn about the dynamics of healthy and unhealthy relationships while they are in school.
Download Our February Take Action! Toolkit
February is Dating Violence Awareness Month, a national effort to raise awareness about the impacts of dating abuse and encourage communities to support teens and young adults in seeking healthy relationships.
Download Stop the Hurt’s Dating Violence Awareness Month Take Action! Toolkit to empower teens and young adults to raise awareness about dating violence and promote healthy relationships.
Be Outspoken!
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Recent Articles
Is it Teen Drama or Teen Trauma?
Teen Relationships in Media Adolescence is the time to get to know yourself in and out of a relationship, but if all you see on screen and in books is red flags, how are you supposed to know what’s healthy or unhealthy? There has been a trend of problematic behaviors being romanticized in shows for teens. The relationships may not be [...]
Shining a Light on Emotional Manipulation
What Does Gaslighting Really Mean? The term gaslighting is currently used a lot, but many people do not really understand what it really means. In fact, Gaslighting was the Word of the Year according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary. Gaslighting is an abusive behavior that can be used to undermine a partner in a toxic or problematic relationship. via GIPHY [...]
Love You, Love Your Partner
How loving yourself can enhance your relationships with others. “Love yourself before others can love you” - This is a common suggestion for healthy relationships, but what if you are already with someone? Is there a test you must pass to prove you love yourself? Should you break up with your partner to start this journey? NO! There is [...]
Self-Love: What it is and How to Practice it
Self-love is founded on self-care and self-compassion practices. Lets define these terms and learn how to practice them.
How Does Violence Affect a Community?
So, What is Violence? Violence is any behavior that has the intent of hurting someone. Violence is stressful on our bodies. Chronic stress increases the chances of heart diseases, mental health issues, and increases the engagement of risky behaviors like alcohol and drug abuse. The health of a community can be affected by violent encounters because you do not need to have a [...]
The COVID Effect – Increased Demand for Shelter and Community Support
In 2021, the United Nations coined the phrase “shadow pandemic” in a report that examined the unprecedented increase in violence against women that occurred during the COVID pandemic. The American Journal of Emergency Medicine estimates that domestic violence cases increased by 25 to 33 percent worldwide during the pandemic. In the United States, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is reporting an all-time high [...]
How to Safely Support Someone in an Abusive Relationship
When someone you know is in an abusive relationship, it may be difficult to know how to help. We want the people we care about to be loved, respected, and safe. Unfortunately, sometimes even in our best attempts to help, we may unintentionally make matters worse and put the victim in harm’s way, as well as ourselves. The following are examples of what [...]
Silent Victims: The Impact of Domestic Violence on Children
Domestic violence comes in many forms including physical assault, emotional/psychological abuse, intimidation, sexual abuse, and the systematic power of control perpetrated by one intimate partner to another. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, “1 in 15 children is exposed to intimate partner violence each year…[and] 90% of these children are eyewitnesses to this violence”. Locally, HCWC provided services and shelter to [...]
A Call to Masculinity
1 out of every 4 women 18 years or older have been the victim of severe physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime. All too often this violence ends deadly. But violence against women is not just a women's issue. This could be your sister, your mother, your daughter, your neighbor, or even your own intimate partner -- and it likely [...]
More Than a Purple Ribbon – The Importance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Currently, there are almost 500 recognized awareness months. They range from the well-known (Breast Cancer Awareness Month) to the obscure (Workplace Eye Wellness Month). Domestic Violence Awareness is recognized every October although it is often overshadowed by Breast Cancer Awareness Month). Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) is so much more than a purple ribbon. It is a message to [...]
5 Ways You Can Help Prevent Sexual Violence in Your Community
Learn More An important first step to preventing sexual violence is recognizing its many forms. Learn more about the dynamics of sexual violence – including sexual assault and sexual harassment. Recognize that it can happen to anyone of any gender, age, race or nationality, education level, sexual orientation, economic background, or ability. When we learn more about the dynamics of abuse and its [...]
Providing Support to a Vulnerable Population
Many of us may have a loved one in our lives who is transgender - even if we don’t know it. Transgender people are often misunderstood and treated poorly. Up to date statewide and national data is lacking, but the most recent documentation shows that a disproportionate number of vulnerable trans female youth are exploited, trafficked, abused, and murdered. A 2021 study done [...]
