violenceprevention

Summer often brings a welcome change of pace. School is out, families spend more time together, community events fill the calendar, and people are enjoying longer days and warmer weather. But while summer can be a season of connection and fun, it can also bring unique challenges for individuals and families experiencing domestic violence. When routines change, stress can increase. Children are home from school, schedules shift, financial pressures may grow, and people may spend more time...

When people think about domestic violence or sexual violence services, they often picture crisis response—hotlines, shelters, counseling, or court advocacy. Those services are essential, but prevention and healing often begin much earlier. For many survivors, the first person they tell is not an advocate. It may be a coworker, teacher, healthcare provider, pastor, friend, or someone else they trust. Sometimes disclosures are direct, and sometimes they come in the form of questions,...

When someone chooses to share an experience of abuse, violence, or harm, they are often taking an enormous risk. Many survivors spend days, months, or even years weighing whether it is safe to tell someone. They may fear being blamed, doubted, dismissed, or misunderstood. That’s why our response matters so deeply. At the Violence Prevention Center, we believe survivors. Not because every survivor tells their story perfectly or remembers every detail in order, but because trauma impacts the...