Domestic Violence Action Month (DVAM) launched nationwide in 1987 as a way to connect and unite individuals and organizations working to end domestic violence. Over the last three decades, we have made significant progress by bringing the issue of domestic violence out of the shadows and working towards a society where everyone is free from abuse. There is much left to do.
Safe and healthy families are the key to ensuring safe and vibrant communities. We each have the power to change our culture of violence to one of kindness and compassion through words and our actions. Continue reading “October is Domestic Violence Action Month”→
Often people believe that when a parent leaves an abusive relationship they will gain primary custody of the children; however, many family courts don’t consider a history of domestic violence as grounds for denying the abuser partial or full custody. Survivors often face an uphill battle for custody. And abusers are more likely than non-abusers to challenge custody ruling. 70% of the time abusers succeed in getting partial or full custody. Continue reading “Domestic Violence and Child Custody”→
Survivors of domestic violence are heroes. I first learned this when my wife, Amy, started her work as a crisis line volunteer for LifeWire over 20 years ago. I learned that survivors are often in life-threatening situations and that power, control, and violence are used as weapons. Since learning those first lessons, I’ve also learned that there is hope. As I’ve learned more about what LifeWire does, I’ve realized that it is possible to save lives and I’ve become hopeful that through education we can prevent domestic violence. Continue reading “Why I Give – Bob Maher”→
One in four survivors has experienced reproductive coercion, yet few people are familiar with the term. Reproductive coercion is any behavior aimed at controlling a person’s reproductive choices. It can take many different forms, including throwing away birth control or poking holes in condoms, lying about a vasectomy, or forcing a partner to get pregnant or have an abortion. One of the most deceptive forms of reproductive coercion is “stealthing” or removing a condom during sex without a partner’s consent. Continue reading “Domestic Violence and Reproductive Coercion”→
