It’s a question that too many survivors of domestic violence hear — from friends, family, and sometimes even from themselves: “Why don’t they just leave?” But for those experiencing abuse, leaving is not that simple. In fact, it can be the most dangerous time in an abusive relationship. The Violence Prevention Center of Southwestern Illinois works with survivors every day who face a complex web of barriers that make “just leaving” nearly impossible without safety planning and

Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) reminds us that behind every statistic is a story—and behind every story is a community that can help rewrite the ending. This year’s theme, Every1KnowsSome1 , is a powerful reminder that domestic violence doesn’t only happen to “other people.” It happens in every neighborhood, across every background, age, and income level. Chances are, someone you know  has been affected. What It Really Means When we say “Every1KnowsSome1,” we’re nam

Cycles of abuse often begin in the everyday moments where anger, frustration, or stress take over. When children grow up in homes where...

Earlier this month, we shared ways to prioritize your digital safety —practical steps like updating passwords, checking devices, and...

When we think about abuse in relationships, we often picture adults. But unhealthy and abusive patterns can begin much earlier. In fact,...

Digital safety is key to survivor safety. Here are a few key steps to staying safe in our digital world

When people hear the word shelter , they might think of a building or a bed to sleep in for the night. But for survivors of domestic...