How Does Violence Affect a Community?
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 personal connection to violence to feel the stress of it.
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Recent Articles
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 [...]
For Sexual Assault Survivors the First Step to Healing is Support
In its infancy the Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center with its limited staff managed hotline calls while board members and volunteers responded to area hospitals to serve community members who experienced family violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and child abuse. As the Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center grew and hired more staff the need to offer Advocacy Training to its staff was necessary to keep up with [...]
Why Children May Not Disclose Abuse
Roxanne’s House is HCWC’s Children’s Advocacy Center in San Marcos, TX. It is a child-friendly facility with trained staff specializing in child abuse issues including licensed counselors, forensic interviewers, and advocates. The purpose of Roxanne’s House is to assist children in healing after abuse. Our forensic interviewers have the privilege to be trusted with listening to children tell their stories of being sexually [...]
Coping With an Abusive Relationship
Being in an abusive relationship can have a significant impact on various parts of your life such as mental health, safety, relationships with others, and more. You may struggle with understanding your partners behaviors, especially when they treat you with love and kindness one day then anger and violence the next. Many people hope that things will get better and then blame themselves [...]
