Toolkit with Report Form - Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic ...

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Section Six DISPELLING MYTHS Myth: It’s Just A Domestic Dispute Reality: It’s Actually A Deadly Crime It’s against the law to abuse a family or household member or intimate partner. Domestic violence often is more brutal and deadly than stranger-onstranger assault. Without appropriate intervention, the violence may only get worse and continue into the next generation. Myth: It Doesn’t Happen In My Neighborhood Reality: It Can Happen Anywhere Myth: It’s Not My Business Reality: It’s Everyone’s Business Domestic violence takes a toll on the entire community. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates the annual cost of lost productivity due to domestic violence equals $727.8 million, with more than 7.9 million paid workdays lost each year. The CDC also estimates the healthrelated costs of intimate partner rape, physical assault, stalking and homicide exceed $5.8 billion each year, with $4.1 billion going toward direct medical and mental health-related services. And many times, the cost is someone’s life. Domestic violence happens in all communities, at all income and education levels, with victims and perpetrators representing a diverse cross-section of society. Where someone lives has little to do with the people they live with and what goes Myth: It’s Love Gone Wrong Reality: Love Has Nothing To Do With It on behind their closed doors. Domestic violence is about obsession, possession, revenge, power and control. An abuser doesn’t just “snap.” The violence most often is methodical, calculating, and intended to cause fear Myth: It’s The Economy Reality: It’s Domestic Violence Made Worse By The Economy Recession, unemployment and empty bank accounts create stress that can intensify in situations where domestic violence already exists. Many programs in Pennsylvania and around the country attribute their overflowing shelters and waiting lists to the financial hardships confronting victims and their batterers. Domestic violence advocates are gravely concerned for the safety of victims and their children who now have fewer options and resources as the abuse escalates and funding for local domestic violence programs dwindles. page 44 When Crisis Strikes | Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence | 2012
Myth: She Can Just Leave Reality: It’s More Complicated Than That Victims stay with or return to their batterers for multiple reasons, including: ◗ Fear the violence will intensify if they leave. Victims often are in the most danger when they attempt to end the relationship. ◗ Fear their batterers will retaliate against their children if they leave or seek custody. They may sacrifice their own safety so their children can have a father, good schools, a roof over their heads, and financial security. ◗ The hope their batterers can change with counseling. ◗ Their love for their partners and their willingness to forgive them. ◗ The lack of support systems to help them escape the abuse because their batterers have deliberately and systematically isolated them from family, friends, co-workers and others. ◗ The lack of economic resources to support themselves and their children. Batterers often sabotages their partners’ credit rating (or prevents them from establishing one at all) and damage their employment record by harassing them at work and causing lateness and absenteeism. ◗ Inaccurate information about battering. Professionals, family, friends and the batterer may say that alcohol or drugs cause battering. Victims are told they are co-dependent and enable his behavior. Victims find themselves blamed for not trying hard enough. ◗ The lack of available alternative and affordable housing ◗ Religious beliefs that compel them to try to make even an abusive marriage work. Religious leaders may tell them that leaving or divorce is not an option. ◗ Their fear for their batterer’s wellbeing because he threatens suicide if they leave or exaggerates the devastating effects of prison if they call police. Section Six Myth: Children Are Unharmed Reality: Children Are Always At Risk Of Harm Every risk, injury, and disruption that domestic violence victims endure, their children also endure. Their educational, social, emotional and behavioral development may be adversely affected. Often, once the abuse is directed toward the children, victims may increase their efforts to leave. Myth: If She Wanted To Get Help, She’d Ask For It Reality: It’s Not That Easy In homes where domestic violence is a way of life, fear and intimidation can cripple and paralyze to the extent that victims aren’t able to reach out for help. Batterers often isolate victims from families, friends, neighbors and other people who could help, if they knew about the abuse. When Crisis Strikes | Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence | 2012 page 45
Page 1 and 2: When Crisis Strikes: A Toolkit for
Page 3: TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. When Crisis St
Page 6 and 7: Section ONE PCADV technical Assista
Page 8 and 9: Section two Involve other systems i
Page 10 and 11: COMMUNICATIONS Do: Don’t: Do: Don
Page 12 and 13: Responding to Subpoena for Program
Page 14 and 15: Section four PROTECTING CONFIDENTIA
Page 16 and 17: Section four RESPONDING TO A subpoe
Page 18 and 19: Section four ◗ Staff should never
Page 20 and 21: Section five 4. Trauma ◗ A unique
Page 22 and 23: Section five E. Take Care of Staff
Page 24 and 25: Section five A Team Approach Most c
Page 26 and 27: Section five Communication with Fam
Page 28 and 29: Section five Take Care of Staff Fee
Page 30 and 31: Section five Vicarious Trauma Impli
Page 32 and 33: Section five Bringing in Other Indi
Page 34 and 35: Section five Physical Injury Severe
Page 36 and 37: Section five In securing personal i
Page 38 and 39: Section five Children and Death Whe
Page 40 and 41: Section five Appendix Resources Res
Page 42 and 43: Section six Managing Communications
Page 44 and 45: Section Six A Reference Guide to th
Page 46 and 47: Section Six Preparing Victims and S
Page 50 and 51: Section Six Myth: Women Lie About B
Page 52 and 53: Section Six Myth: There’s Nothing
Page 54 and 55: Section seven Individual and Commun
Page 56 and 57: Section seven Honoring Victims Prof
Page 58 and 59: Section seven Community Awareness E
Page 60 and 61: Section seven Randi’s Race This a
Page 62 and 63: Section 1: General Information Prog

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