Domestic Violence DVA

Federal laws that protects victim employment rights

2012-01-27T12:52:00.000-08:00

The Occupational Safety and Health Act mandates that all employers are to provide their employees with work environments that are free from recognizable hazards that are causing or likely to cause death or harm to employees (including violence). The Occupational and Saftey Administration has four categories of violence. Violence by Strangers, Client/Customers, Coworkers and Personal ...Relationships(domestic violence would fall into this category). According to OSHA, in their "elements of a workplace violence prevention program," employees that are victims of domestic violence need to be aware and feel secure in alerting their employees to a potential for a workplace attack ( i.e. victims should not be threatened with termination or fear of termination if they are victims of domestic violence.) OSHA also recommends that workplace violence policies should be implemented that 1. address the confidentiality of the employee's personal information; 2. deny or restrict workplace access to the employee relatives or outside visitors and 3. allow flexibility in the use of leave, work schedule and transfers where employees may be at risk of violence.

A Little History for You

2012-01-21T13:45:00.001-08:00

In the 1970s “Speak Outs” were the most common avenue of protest and activism. As we all know the 70s represented political and social change and it was during this time that women were advocating for reproductive rights, freedom of sexual expression, equal pay and breaking the mold of the role of what a women or wife should be or do. A few of the issues that related to d...omestic relations were husbands forcing their wives to have sex (marital rape) and husbands physically battering/ abusing their wives. This is how the issue of domestic violence began to receive attention and grassroots organizing for public policy, funding, advocacy and shelters for victims of domestic violence.

Men's Friday Number 1

2012-01-19T23:12:00.000-08:00

MEN'S FRIDAY: #1 Approach gender violence as a MEN'S issue involving men of all ages and socioeconomic, racial and ethnic backgrounds. View men not only as perpetrators or possible offenders, but as empowered bystanders who can confront abusive peers.

IRS and Domestic Violence: What's the Connection?

2012-01-11T18:29:00.000-08:00

The Office of Tax Payer Advocates is lobbying for congress to
mandate that certain IRS employees receive domestic violence training to
recognize and address domestic violence for taxpayers that are victims.
Many IRS employees often perceive lack of information, incomplete information or no knowledge of tax information ( which is common with victims of
domestic violence) as deceptive/ illegal activity. The projected result is to bring
awareness to discrepancies, protect victims and prevent the possibility of
penalties to victims.

http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/domestic-taxes/203641-advocate-irs-needs-greater-understanding-of-domestic-violence

Intimate Partner Violence: Female vs. Male experiences

2012-01-10T22:56:00.001-08:00

Female victims of intimate partner violence experienced different patterns of violence than male victims. Female victims experienced multiple forms (rape only; rape,physical violence and stalking; physical violence and stalking; rape and stalking; rape and physical violence; stalking only) of these types of violence; male victims most often experienced physical violence. NISVS, 2010

First Congregation Church DV Support Group

2012-01-10T00:17:00.000-08:00

If any of you have friends or family members that live in Crystal Lake or the surrounding area, check this out. First Congregational Church (461 Pierson Street) church will have it's first Domestic Violence Support Group meeting on Tuesday, January 17, 2012. The meeting location and time will be given when you sign up for the group. Please call Lisa at the church office at (815)459-6010.

New Illinois Law

2012-01-10T00:16:00.000-08:00

House Bill 3365, which went into effect January 1, prohibits offenders convicted at any time of domestic battery from obtaining a Firearm Owner Identification card.

Impact of Domestic Violence on Children

2011-12-28T23:42:00.000-08:00

Almost one in ten American children saw one family member assault another family member, and more than 25 percent had been exposed to family violence during their life. 2009 DOJ Study. Domestic violence and family violence has so drastically affected children the Department of Justice has started the Task Force for Children Exposed to Violence.

Acute Explosion

2011-12-23T12:41:00.001-08:00

Acute Explosion Phase includes verbal assaults and attacks are followed by physical battering which can range from hitting, to choking, rape, locking her into a closet, forbidding her to enter certain sections of the living quarters.
Survivors response is to protect self any way possible, going into a different room, calling the police, pleading, trying to leave or fighting back.

Tension Building Phase

2011-12-23T12:38:00.000-08:00

In this phase the batterer is moody, belligerent, is intentionally confrontational, expresses discontent, is hostile toward partner or children. Wants to batter, nothing can stop actions, does not practice withdrawal ritual.
Survivor has the feeling of walking on eggshells. Survivor attempts to calm abuser by placating, by cooking the abusers favorite meal, keeping quiet, reasoning with him, “you said that you wouldn’t do this again”,” you said that if I didn’t make you mad,” you said that if…

The Honey Moon Phase

2011-12-20T17:43:00.002-08:00

The HoneyMoon Phase...Some type of abuse has occurred. The relationship seems to be as it was in the beginning. You are lovey-dovey. The abuser apologizes for their behavior/the abuse. Shows remorse (temporarily), begs for forgiveness, promises that "it" will never happen again, promises to go to counseling, buys gifts or flowers and helps with domestic chores. Usually the latter things are not something that the abuser partakes in until this stage. The survivor believes that the abuse will not happen again and accepts the apologies and gifts...if not immediately after a while.

Cycle of Violence

2011-12-20T17:43:00.001-08:00

Hello all!! Starting tomorrow, I am going to post about the cycle of domestic violence. You may or may not have heard of it before. It is the continual performance of predictable abusive patterns in a domestically abusive relationship. This usually occurs in phases. They can come in any order. But here they are...Honeymoon, Tension Building and Explosion. I will expound more on these over the next three days.

Center for Disease Control Survey on IPV, Sexual Assault and Stalking

2011-12-15T21:04:00.000-08:00

CURRENT EVENTS: Check out this news article by the Associated Press from the survey released today by the Center for Disease Control regarding violence against women.
http://news.yahoo.com/survey-1-4-us-women-victims-severe-violence-170059038.html

LEGAL AID APP FOR YOUR PHONE

2011-12-13T15:45:00.000-08:00

CURRENT EVENTS: Did you know that there is a mobile app for Legal Aid and Pro Bono services in Illinois. The app's are Illinois Legal Aid APP and Illinois Pro Bono App. Here is an article to read about it. http://www.illinoislegalaid.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=news.dspNewsDetailsPublic&newsID=1146

International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

2011-12-10T17:02:00.000-08:00

CURRENT EVENTS; International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Violence against women is not just a domestic issue. Check out this article.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/dec/10/violence-women-hillary-clinton?newsfeed=true

Men's Friday Countdown to Preventing Gender Violence

2011-12-10T17:01:00.000-08:00

MEN'S FRIDAY: Countdown to Dr. Jackson Katz "Ten Things Men Can Do To Prevent Gender Violence. #2 If a brother, friend, classmate, or teammate is abusing his female partner -- or is disrespectful or abusive to girls and women in general -- don't look the other way. If you feel comfortable doing so, try to talk to him about it. Urge him to seek help. Or if you don't know what to do, consult a friend, a parent, a professor,or a counselor. DON'T REMAIN SILENT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

2011-12-07T18:08:00.001-08:00

Commercial for awareness of domestic violence by the NCADV and The Verizon Foundation. Some are saying that it implies that only men are abusers?
http://jezebel.com/5865167/domestic-violence-ad-implies-only-men-are-abusers?autoplay

Family Violence affect Children

2011-12-07T17:11:00.001-08:00

Victimization and exposure to violence affects children. This study from the University College of London reports that children exposed to family violence have greater risk of anxiety and depression later in life. The children have similar pattern in the brains of soldiers exposed to violence combat situations. http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2011/12/06/kids-growing-up-in-violent-homes-react-to-danger-in-same-way-as-battlefield-soldiers/

New legisltation under VAWA to provide improved services for victims

2011-12-05T11:20:00.000-08:00

CURRENT EVENTS: SENATOR LEAHY AND CRAPO introduced legislation to further strengthen and improve the programs authorized under the landmark law to assist victims and survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

http://crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/release_full.cfm?id=334999

DV and the Workplace

2011-12-01T13:33:00.000-08:00

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, homicide is the leading cause of death for women on the job, and 20% of those murders were at the hands of their partners.

Help Domestic Violence Agencies!!!

2011-11-29T15:18:00.001-08:00

DUE TO A LACK OF FUNDING many services that are provided to victims are being cut or only a select few are able to receive services, staff is being laid off and battered women and children maybe financially and legally marginalized. For the holiday season... instead of buying something that you don't need or won't wear (I do it all the time, well at least I used to!) Please donate to a domestic v...iolence agency. You know how we like to pass things along. Please pass this along to your friends, family co-workers,... church member, associates and anybody else. Here is a link to donate to the ILLINOIS COALITION AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE page for donations, http://www.ilcadv.org/get_involved/donate.asp. For some of my followers that live out of state. You can check with you state coalition about what you can do to help financially. Thanks!!!

The Declaration of Human Sentim

2011-11-27T12:37:00.000-08:00

Did you know about the Declaration of Human Sentiment (1848) written by Elizabeth Cady Stanton. This document advocated for equal rights of women, spoke against the denial of rights: to education, equal opportunity in employment (education, medicine and law), exclusion from ministry, and the legal independence of women. This document also condemned society's acceptance of male privilege that allowed wife chastisement.

COERCION AND THREATS

2011-11-27T12:33:00.001-08:00

COERCION AND THREATS includes making and/or carrying out threats to do something to hurt her (e.g."if you go to work, I will call your boss and tell your boss that you do drugs," "if you go out tonight, I don't know what I might do." Threatening to leave her (e.g."You don't love me, there are plenty of other women that want me", commit suicide (e.g. "If you leave me, I have no reason to live with out you in my life," "My life is not worth living without you in it.), or report her to welfare. Making her drop charges (e.g. You think I hurt you last time, if you don't drop the charges, next you won't live to tell anybody." Making her do illegal things. (P/C Wheel)

Economic Abuse

2011-11-27T12:31:00.002-08:00

ECONOMIC ABUSE occurs when the abuser prevents partner from getting or keeping a job. Making partner ask for money. Giving an allowance. Taking partners money. Not letting partner know about or have access to family income. Yes, there are some people that do not have access to the family income. Some abuser only give partners money for food, not for diapers, not for gas, not for anything that the...y don't deem important. Please don't think, why doesn't she just get out and get a job? Remember abuse does not start at this extreme, it is gradual and over a period of time. This could have started with the intent that one party will manage the home and the other will manage the finances, with equal input, however in the end one partner is getting the short end of the stick.

MINIMIZING, BLAMING AND DENYING

2011-11-27T12:31:00.001-08:00

MINIMIZING, BLAMING AND DENYING occurs when the abuser makes light of the abuse, not acknowledging the seriousness of their behavior and its effects on their partner. Denying that the abuse actually happened, refusing to acknowledge abusive behavior (e.g.” I didn’t hit you that hard.”, or “Why can’t you just get over it?” or “You’re just being stupid!”). Shifting blame for the abuse, blaming the ...victim, (e.g., “If you hadn’t talked back, “Embarrassed me in public by disagreeing,” or “If you would clean the house like I asked or “Just cook what I like.,” Wear what I want you to wear.” ) P/C Wheel/CCFIJS. The abusive behavior is never their fault. Remember this people, no one person is always right or never at fault.

ISOLATION

2011-11-24T17:09:00.001-08:00

ISOLATION includes controlling what she does, who she sees and talks to (because the abuser needs to be the center of attention), what she reads, where she goes, limiting her outside involvement, using jealousy to justify actions, abuser also sees partner as their possession. Power&Control Wheel/CCFIJS. All of these actions are done out of jealousy and control, but in part, they are committed unde...r the guise of “love/closeness.” The abuser wants partner to believe that they are the only two people in the world; not only the relationship and that other people or interests will intrude upon their love, relationship and continued growth together. To state it plainly, any influence outside of what the abuser cannot manipulate and control, is a threat to the abusers’ plan to control and abuse partner. Who can she call? Who will help her? If everyone and everything that she has identified herself with is gone.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND THE HOLIDAYS

2011-11-24T17:08:00.001-08:00

Some of you may be wondering if domestic violence is increased during the holiday season. Well, this is what I found. On average, Valentines Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas have incidents slightly below non-holiday trends of abuse. New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, Memorial Day and Independence Day have domestic violence reports higher than the daily average. New Year’s Day has 2.7 times more incidents of domestic violence, followed by Independence Day.
National Resource Center on Domestic Violence

EMOTIONAL ABUSE

2011-11-23T10:55:00.001-08:00

EMOTIONAL ABUSE includes putting her down, making her feel bad about herself, calling her names (objectifying), making her think she’s crazy (distorting/denying/changing the factual account of events), playing mind games, humiliating her, making her feel guilty. Abuser has content for partner, is contradictory in behavior and communication. Often lies and explains violence as an expression of their deep love. Power&Control Wheel/CCFIJS

Entitlement

2011-11-22T06:26:00.000-08:00

ENTTITLEMENT or MALE PRIVILEGE is the "overarching characteristic" of abusive partners, a belief in having special rights without responsibilities, justifying unreasonable expectations (e.g., family life must center on their needs). Partner will feel the wronged party when his needs are not met and may justify violence as self-defense. This involves treating her like a servant, making all the big decisions, acting like the master of the castle, being the one to define men and women’s roles. Power and Control Wheel/CCFIJS

Characteristics of an Abusiver Partner- CONTROL

2011-11-21T13:49:00.000-08:00

Abusers have characteristics/ behavior that indicates their abusive nature. Domestic Violence professionals refers to this and categorize it as the "Profile of a Batterer. So, everyday this week, I will post a characteristic of a batterer. Here goes, CONTROL, this is achieved with criticism, verbal abuse, financial control, isolation, cruelty, etc. Example, making her afraid by using looks, actions, gesture, smashing things, destroying her property, abusing, pets, displaying weapons. The need to control may deepen over time or escalate if a victim seeks independence. Power&Control Wheel/CCFIJS

Defining Domestic Violence

2011-11-20T21:02:00.000-08:00

A lot of people say that they don't know anyone that is a victim of domestic violence. People also question how domestic violence is defined. So here it, a definition of domestic. Domestic violence is a pattern of behavior used to establish power and control over another person with whom an intimate relationship is or has been shared through fear and intimidation, often including the threat or use... of violence (National Coalition Against Domestic Violence). The abuse can be physical, verbal, emotional, psychological, sexual and financial. This abusive pattern of behavior is also purposeful (in achieving control by any means), planned and manipulative in nature. This abuse increases and evolves as time progresses and the relationship continues.

2011-04-27T19:07:00.000-07:00

Contact me for trainings or workshops! 312.672.2935

GPS monitoring for Stalkers /Violators of Orders of Protections

2010-03-22T20:56:00.000-07:00

Hello All,

Many of you may have heard of Cindy Bischof, Tiona Notice and Amanda Ross. All of these women were stalked and killed by their former boyfriends after obtaining orders of protection.
Because of Cindy Bischof the Illinois legislature passed a bill allowing judges and law enforcement the discretion to GPS monitoring in cases of violations of orders of protection. 15 states have passed legislation to use GPS to track stalkers.

Link to Cindy's Law
http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=&SessionId=76&GA=96&DocTypeId=HJR&DocNum=18&GAID=10&LegID=&SpecSess=&Session=

National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month

2010-02-05T08:55:00.000-08:00

The Department of Justice will use the month of February to raise awareness for teen violence. I have attached a link. http://www.endabuse.org/content/news/detail/1453. Domestic Violence is not just an issue with adults, it is very pervasive within the dating lives of teenagers.

Thank you, Latricia Gordon

2010-01-11T00:11:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to say "Thank you" to Latricia Gordon from lwashingtondesign.com for the creation and maintenance of my website.

Introduction to Domestic Violence DVA

2010-01-10T10:39:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone,

My name is Verna and this is my blog for and about domestic violence. This will be a forum to discuss anything about domestic violence, i.e. it's effects on society and the judicial, political, and employment sector. Please feel free to discuss your experiences, ask questions and connect others to this site for awareness and education for preventative remedies and measures to eliminating domestic violence. I strongly believe that education is an empowering tool. I also believe that both women and men are able to advocate for and make changes in society's perception of domestic violence.