Introduction: The Cycle of Violence

Domestic Violence Defined - Criminal There are two types of domestic violence

behavior: Criminal and non-criminal. Criminal behavior includes but is not limited to

uninvited physical contact such as striking, kicking, biting, sexual coercion* and abuse, marital rape, intimidation by stalking*, computer hacking, and criminal isolation*.

Domestic Violence Defined- Non-Criminal Non- criminal behavior includes but is not

limited to being denied access to friends or other social contacts.

Shadowing*, restricting the use of the telephone by securing phones in a locked or temporary removal during the time the abuser is away.

Denying access to family finances.

Domestic Violence Statistics

Every day 4 women, 1 man and almost 5 children die as a result of domestic violence.

I in every 4 women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime.

Females ages 20-24 years of age are at the greatest risk for intimate partner abuse.

In 2005, 389,100 women and 78, 180 men were victimized by an intimate partner

Domestic violence isn’t always violent…

The scope of domestic violence is far more reaching than the black eye of the raised fist.

Domestic violence: words can have the same impact as a punch

The Face of The Abused – WomenDomestic violence does not discriminate based on gender, ethnicity, age or socio-economic status. Women, however, represent the largest number of domestic violence victims.

The Face of The Abused – MenMale victims of intimate partner abuse are less likely to report belittling* and physical abuse because of the social stigma of appearing weak and disbelieved

The Face of The Abused – The Elderly

Incidence of elder abuse was found to be 32 of 1,000 in persons over age 65.

Elderly men are as likely to be abused as elderly women.

Elderly women sustain more severe physical and psychological injury.

The Face of The Abused – GLBT

In 2003, lesbians, gays, bisexuals or transgendered people experienced 6,523 incidents of domestic violence; 44% were men, 36% women and 2% transgender.

The Face of The Abused – The Children For every hour, as many as 115

children are abused. • 90% of children from violent homes witness their fathers beating their mothers.

63% of all boys, age 11-20, who commit murder, kill the man who was abusing their mother.

Children in homes where violence occurs are physically abused or neglected* at a rate 1500% higher than the national average.

The Consequences of Domestic Violence

Children are products of their environment. This includes parental modeling, both positive and negative.

Children of abuse often grow up to become abusers and abused.

The Consequences of Domestic Violence Every year, domestic

violence results in almost 100,000 days of hospitalizations, almost 30,000 emergency department visits, and almost 40,000 visits to a physician.

The Consequences of Domestic Violence

Children exposed to domestic violence experience fear, anxiety, low self-esteem , withdrawal and poor performance in school.

The ultimate consequence…

Every day nearly ten people die as a result of domestic violence in the United States.

The journey begins with you…

One of the hardest lessons in life to the acceptance of the fact that we cannot change the behaviors of others, only our own.

It is up to you to make a commitment to yourself to safely leave a dangerous and potentially life-threatening situation and begin to enjoy a quality life free of abuse.

Yes, you have options…

This or This

Food For Thought…

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. There are 754 hours in the month of October. As many as 115 children are abused in one hour. That is 11, 310 children too many.

There are 754 hours in the month of October. As many as 4 women , 1 man and almost 5 children who die every 24 hours as a result of domestic violence. That is 310 people too many.

74% of Americans are currently being abused or know someone who is. There are 8,760 hours in a year. Shouldn’t we be more than aware every day of every week, of every month, of every year?