Friendships among women hold a unique place in our social circles. These relationships provide essential emotional support, shared experiences, and a great understanding that can only come from those who have faced similar challenges. Women’s friendships can be particularly critical during times of stress, personal transformation, or loss. A friend can lend an empathetic ear or offer advice and encouragement.
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As a Bilingual Community Advocate with Journey Center’s Latina Domestic Violence Project, I look forward to coming into work each day grateful that I can make a difference in the lives of individuals and families in our community.
Read MoreEveryone has a role to play in helping to end domestic violence. If you suspect abuse or have witnessed a family member being abusive in their relationship, it can be difficult to know what to do. You may love your family member, but you know that what they’re doing is harmful to their partner. You may want to help but are scared to lose the relationship with them or you may feel as though it is not your place to step in.
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Monday is typically a day full of contacting clients, checking in and seeing how clients are doing, connecting them with services and resources, and completing intakes for our Education Classes. With that comes documentation and entering information into our database. Monday is also the day I prepare for all the classes (Domestic Violence Education Classes and ACT Parenting) that I have for the remainder of the week.
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No two days in Shelter are alike. The only thing you know for certain walking through the doors of the Shelter is that you will be helping other human beings work through one of the hardest things one can experience. It all starts with a call.
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I start my day with a mix of engaging with clients and preparing for my shift. As I walk in the front doors of Shelter, I interact with the children and parents by saying “hi” or asking how their day is going before heading to the office for our shift change.
Read MoreWhile Pride Month often serves as a fun, vibrant celebration, it can also be an opportunity to recognize and support those in the LGBTQIA+ community who are victims and survivors of abuse. Domestic violence is not limited to heterosexual relationships and can affect individuals of all sexual orientations and genders. Within the LGBTQIA+ community, domestic violence occurs at a rate equal to or even higher than that of the heterosexual community.
Read MoreWe all deserve a green flag relationship. Green flags as the name suggests are positive indicators of yourself or others. It’s a reflection of your relationship with yourself. They help you identify what you need to improve on, what you succeed in and how far you’ve come in your self-reflection journey. These indicators also help you identify the steps needed to achieve a healthy and long-lasting relationship with yourself.
Read MoreSurvivors of domestic violence often endure severe consequences such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and substance abuse, which can significantly disrupt their lives in multiple ways. At Journey Center, we are dedicated to supporting survivors on their mental health journeys.
Read MoreExperiencing abuse as a child can have serious, long-term effects on an individual. There are many factors that play into how abuse affects a child including the child’s age and developmental level when the abuse occurred. Children who are abused and neglected may suffer immediate physical injuries such as cuts, bruises, or broken bones. They may also have emotional and psychological problems, such as anxiety or posttraumatic stress.
Read MoreThe first step in helping children who have been abused or neglected is learning to recognize the signs of child abuse. The presence of a single sign does not necessarily mean that abuse is occurring in a family, but a closer look at the situation may be warranted when these signs appear repeatedly or in combination.
Read MoreIf a child you know or care about is experiencing child abuse you may not know what to do or what to say. However, when a child talks to you about the abuse they are facing it is important to listen and to act in a way that supports the child while keeping them protected.
Read MoreEach year, approximately 304 million children between the ages of 3-17 are at risk of exposure to domestic violence. Although many children who experience abuse do not become violent later in life, there is a substantial risk that violence in the family is transferred from generation to generation.
Read MoreChild abuse and neglect are serious public health issues that affect millions of children each year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), at least 1 in 7 children have experienced child abuse or neglect in the past year in the United States.
Read MoreBrain Injury Awareness Month is a dedicated period for recognizing the causes and raising awareness to eliminate the stigma surrounding brain injuries. It is also a time to recognize those with brain injuries related to domestic violence and let them know they are not alone. Violence directed at the head, neck, and face can have long-lasting consequences. Any time you are hurt in this way, it should be taken seriously.
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Women’s History Month is a celebration of women’s contributions to history, culture, and society held annually in March. This years theme is: “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion”, recognizing women, past and present, who understand that, for a positive future, we need to eliminate bias and discrimination entirely from our lives and institutions.
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Each February, Journey Center raises awareness about teen dating violence through Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM). This annual effort focuses on advocacy and education to stop dating abuse before it starts. This is an issue that impacts everyone, not just teens, but their parents, friends and communities as well. This year’s theme, “Love Like That,” amplifies the voices of teens and young adults by supporting and uplifting positive, healthy, and safe relationships and calls on all of us to create a world free of relationship abuse.
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Black History Month is a time to celebrate and honor the achievements of Black Americans and their central role in U.S. history. In honor of Black History Month, Journey Center want honors Black activists who have impacted the gender-based violence movement.
These are just a few of the influential Black voices who have made history as part of the anti-violence movement. Journey Center is grateful to these, and many other, Black activists for leading the way.
Read MoreEvery year, we set aside the month of January in support of the millions of people across the country who are survivors of stalking. National Stalking Awareness Month (NSAM) is an annual call to action to recognize and respond to the serious crime of stalking.
Stalking is a form of gender-based violence and frequently co-occurs within domestic violence. Stalking is defined as a pattern of behavior directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear.
Read MoreCoping with trauma looks different for everyone. Learning healthy coping strategies will not only help you feel stronger mentally and emotionally, if you or someone you care about has experienced or been impacted by abuse, but they can also lessen your chances of experiencing abuse in the future.
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