If you or someone you know needs support, contact the Philadelphia Domestic Violence Hotline at 866-723-3014 (24/7/365). Call 911 in an emergency. Domestic violence supports are more important than ever. Because of COVID-19, home is more than home. Home is work, school, daycare, and more – all in one place. For domestic violence survivors, this isolation can be more than boring; it may be harmful. Isolation from friends and family is a common tactic used by abusive partners. They may also control cell phone usage, track internet searches, and listen in to phone calls. That is why safe and supportive contact with others is so important for survivors. We know that limiting contact with others lowers the spread of COVID-19. But without seeing friends and family in person, survivors may not have the support systems they need in order to reach out for help. So, aside from calling the hotline, how can you help while we weather the pandemic? Check on your people: Ask your friends and loved ones if they are ok. After you ask, stay quiet. Give your loved one time to talk. If you are worried about certain friends, ask them what mode of communication is safest for them. Let them know how to reach you if they ever need help. Instead of telling them what to do, ask what they need. Let them know about domestic violence resources available in Philadelphia. Post by Alexandra [...]

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The first Domestic Violence Awareness Month was celebrated in 1987 by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The goal was for advocates across the nation to come together to help end violence in families. The coalition saw a need to link regional communities to a larger, national effort to end domestic violence. Each year, we: honor those who have died because of domestic violence celebrate those who have survived, and connect those who work to end violence. Domestic Violence Awareness Month is a chance to speak about this issue all month long. For many of us, home has become the office, school, and daycare - all in one place. For domestic violence survivors, this isolation that many of us feel may be harmful. While staying at home helps lower the spread of the virus, survivors may not be able to reach out to others for help. Being with friends and family is often how survivors reach and maintain help and safety. Keeping someone away from their friends and family is a common tactic of abusive partners. It is also one of the ways that they make sure their partner won’t leave. Abusive partners will isolate someone to ensure that their voice is the only one the survivor hears. They may even control cell phone [...]