| Thursday, August 28, 2008 |
|
|
| |
|
|
 |
|
|
Health Partners and the Health Partners Foundation are excited to announce a new initiative with the Institute for Safe Families (ISF), whose mission is to prevent intimate and family violence. One of ISF's unique public awareness campaigns is Children Learn What They Live (CLWTL) pictured above.
|
| |
|
|
|
Are You Being Abused?
|
Does the person you love...
 |
Threaten to hurt or kill you or your children? |
|
Put you down in public or keep you from contacting family/friends? |
|
Control where you go, who you talk to, and how you spend money? |
|
Throw, push, hit, choke, kick, or slap you? |
|
Say it's your fault, promise it won't happen again - but then it does? |
|
Force you to have sex when you don't want to? |
| |
If any of this is happening to you, you are being abused.
|
|
Plan for Your Safety
Be prepared...
 |
Know where you can get help. Keep a list of important phone numbers (police, domestic violence hotline, hospital) with you. |
|
Plan with your children. Identify a safe place for them (room with a lock, neighbor's house). Let them know that their job is to stay safe, not to protect you. |
|
Arrange a signal with a neighbor for when you need help. |
|
Prepare an emergency kit that you can get to quickly. (You may want to keep it at a trusted friend's/neighbor's house.)
Include:
extra set of car and house keys
money, food stamps, checkbook, credit card(s), pay stubs
birth certificates and other ID for you and your children
your driver's license or other photo identification
Social Security card or green card/work permit
health insurance cards, medications for you and your children
deed or lease to your house or apartment
any court papers or orders
change of clothes for you and your children
|
|
Plan the safest time to get away. Know which doors, windows, etc. provide escape. Practice with your children for an emergency. |
|
Get medical help and tell what happened. Ask them to document it. |
|
Have the doctor, nurse, or a friend take pictures of your injuries/bruises. Save any ripped or bloody clothes. |
|
Talk to someone about what you can do next. Call a 24-hour domestic violence program hotline.
|
Help Is Available
You can get FREE and CONFIDENTIAL help and information from a domestic violence program in your area.
Services Include:
24-hour hotlines
shelpters/safe homes
children's counseling/programs
individual and group counceling
court and emergency room assistance
help with welfare application
Domestic violence programs can help you develop a safety plan.
All contact with domestic violence programs is CONFIDENTIAL.
|
|
|
National Domestic Violence Hotline
|
1-800-799-7233 (SAFE)
1-800-787-3224 (TTY)
Article courtesy of the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence (PCADV).
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
