We ALL have a role to play in ending domestic violence!
For yourself:
- Learn about and practice healthy, respectful relationships.
- Learn about the warning signs of abuse and keep your antenna up as you enter and live into relationships.
- Seek support if you are worried about your relationship, or not sure it’s healthy.
For friends, family and co-workers:
- Share information about healthy relationships and the warning signs of abuse.
- Reach out to support someone who may be experiencing abuse [link to If someone you know is being abused section of our website]
- Carry New Beginnings’ wallet cards or brochures to share. [link with way to order?]
- Encourage your employer, faith community, hobby or professional group to host a workshop about domestic violence and available services. [link to Trainings and Workshops section of our website]
For your children:
- Model a healthy, respectful, equitable relationship with your partner or child’s other parent.
- Avoid raising your children with rigid gender roles and expectations. Encourage children of all genders to be caring, respectful, emotionally expressive, and assertive (but not aggressive).
- Talk to young children about caring, respectful relationships and about bullying.
- Talk to preteens and teens about healthy intimate relationships and the warning signs of abuse. https://wscadv.org/resources/supporting-teens-to-have-healthy-relationships/
- Model open and trusting communication with your child and encourage them to turn to you for help.
- Encourage your child’s school to include healthy relationships lessons as part of middle and high school curricula.
For your employees:
[Link to Employer Readiness section of our website]
[Link to If you believe an employee is being abused section of our website]
As a bystander:
Distract: Indirectly intervene by asking for the time, pretending to know the person or other such tactics.
Delay: Check in further if you are unsure that something abusive is going on, or if you don’t feel safe intervening.
Delegate: Find others nearby who can help you.
Direct: Confront (safely and nonviolently) the abusive person to indicate you see a problem. If in a store, restaurant or bar, you can also ask an authorized person such as a manager or bartender to assist you or take over. Call 911 if the situation is dangerous.
Spread the word:
- With permission, display posters, brochures, wallet cards or window clings with information about domestic violence and where to get help at your job and other places you frequent such as places of worship, hair and nail salons, bars, or coffee shops.
- Ask your doctors to display literature at their offices.
- Ask your school to display literature where students gather.
- Encourage your employer, faith community, hobby or professional group to host a workshop about domestic violence and available services. [link to Trainings and Workshops section of our website]
- Encourage your child’s school to include healthy relationships lessons as part of middle and high school curricula.
Advocate for public policy:
There are many opportunities to advocate for laws, policies and funding that benefit survivors or domestic violence prevention efforts. For information about what you can do, contact:
Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence: https://wscadv.org/
Coalition Ending Gender Based Violence (King County): https://endgv.org/
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence: http://ncadv.org/
