What is Domestic Violence?
Domestic Violence is a web of tactics including physical, emotional, and sexual violence, including making you afraid through threats of violence, destroying your belongings, keeping you away from family and friends, and limiting all of the family’s money, with the intention of controlling you, so the abuser gets their own way.
Am I experiencing domestic violence?
If you answer Yes to any of these questions you may be experiencing domestic violence.
- Are you frightened of your partner’s temper?
- Do you feel like you are walking on eggshells?
- Do you make decisions about activities and friends according to what your partner wants or how your partner will react?
- Has you partner hit, kicked, punched, slapped, or pushed you?
- Does your partner put you down or threaten you?
- Does your partner destroy your belongings or limit your access to money?
- Does your partner try to keep you away from your family and friends?
- Does your partner want to know where you are every minute?
Creating a Safety Plan
If you need/want help an advocate can assist you in designing
a safety plan.
If it feels safe, have emergency numbers by the telephone
(of neighbors, family, Umbrella, police, etc.) Teach your
children what the plan is and where they should go when in
danger. Collect necessary materials: coats and boots in winter,
extra clothes, car keys, important papers, birth certificates,
Social Security numbers, income tax information, etc., and
keep them together in a secret secure place.
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Umbrella advocates can assist you with all of these options, if you want our help.
- Safe house/shelter
- Stay with friends or relatives
- Move into your own apartment
- Stay with your partner with a safety plan
- Have the abusing partner move out
- Obtain temporary restraining order (TRO)
- Attend a women’s support group
- Try any combination of the above
These documents can tell you if you can qualifiy for a Relief
From Abuse Order.
Relief
from Abuse General Information
Final
Relief from Abuse Order
I know someone who is being abused. How can I help them?
How Can I Help?
How Men Can
Help
Helping an Abused
Woman
How do I know my partner has changed?
Is
it Safe to Go Home
