FINANCIAL ABUSE CAN KEEP A WOMAN CAPTIVE…
Now there's help so she can break free.
by Lauren Frederick
Why does she stay? It's the question we tend to ask when
we hear of women trapped in abusive situations.
Experts say that it's not only a fear of physical harm, but
also a matter of financial control. Often the abuser blocks his
victim's access to money and assets.
Financial abuse can take many forms, including preventing a
victim from working, forcing a victim to hand over her
paycheck, not allowing her to manage her own money or to
know where bank accounts are held, or even using her
name for credit purposes. These tactics enable the abuser to
inflict long-term damage.
Even if a victim is able to leave her abuser, she may face
devastating financial challenges, such as homelessness,
unemployment and the inability to meet basic needs like
food and transportation.
"Advocates have done what they could to address the
immediate safety needs of victims, such as providing
emergency shelter and helping them obtain protective
orders," says Sue Else, president of the National Network to
End Domestic Violence (NNEDV). "However, due to a lack of
available funding, few programs have been able to focus on
the long-term independence of victims. Job training and
educational planning to meet financial goals are greatly
needed."
When you consider that more than 1.35 million women
access domestic violence services each year, the need
seems even greater.
To address this gap and provide survivors nationwide with
the financial knowledge and skills to help them achieve
economic independence, NNEDV partnered with the Allstate
Foundation on a groundbreaking initiative: the Allstate
Foundation Domestic Violence Program. Since the program's
inception in 2005, the Allstate Foundation has awarded more
than $2 million to assist domestic violence survivors.
By working closely with NNEDV and its membership of
domestic violence coalitions, the Allstate Foundation has
recently developed for the program an economic
empowerment curriculum to provide short- and long-term
strategies to address the financial challenges that many
survivors face. Allstate personal financial representatives
(PFRs) are partnering with local domestic violence coalitions
to implement the curriculum starting in mid-2007.
"That's what makes this program so unique," says
Shawndell Dawson, an economic justice specialist at NNEDV.
"Allstate PFRs equipped with great financial planning skills
are coming together with advocates to help problem-solve
these economic challenges with domestic violence survivors."
"It's been a huge success to have a corporation so
dedicated, and particularly to have its CEO take this issue on
so seriously," says Else. "Allstate is really leading the way,
and its example will encourage other companies to take a
look at what they're doing, both externally and internally, to
address this issue."
You too can take a stand against domestic violence by
clicking here and forwarding the information to family and
friends to raise awareness about this important issue. To
learn more ways you can make a difference, visit www.
nnedv.org.
For more information on the Allstate Foundation Domestic
Violence Program, go to Allstate's website.
Now there's help so she can break free.
by Lauren Frederick
Why does she stay? It's the question we tend to ask when
we hear of women trapped in abusive situations.
Experts say that it's not only a fear of physical harm, but
also a matter of financial control. Often the abuser blocks his
victim's access to money and assets.
Financial abuse can take many forms, including preventing a
victim from working, forcing a victim to hand over her
paycheck, not allowing her to manage her own money or to
know where bank accounts are held, or even using her
name for credit purposes. These tactics enable the abuser to
inflict long-term damage.
Even if a victim is able to leave her abuser, she may face
devastating financial challenges, such as homelessness,
unemployment and the inability to meet basic needs like
food and transportation.
"Advocates have done what they could to address the
immediate safety needs of victims, such as providing
emergency shelter and helping them obtain protective
orders," says Sue Else, president of the National Network to
End Domestic Violence (NNEDV). "However, due to a lack of
available funding, few programs have been able to focus on
the long-term independence of victims. Job training and
educational planning to meet financial goals are greatly
needed."
When you consider that more than 1.35 million women
access domestic violence services each year, the need
seems even greater.
To address this gap and provide survivors nationwide with
the financial knowledge and skills to help them achieve
economic independence, NNEDV partnered with the Allstate
Foundation on a groundbreaking initiative: the Allstate
Foundation Domestic Violence Program. Since the program's
inception in 2005, the Allstate Foundation has awarded more
than $2 million to assist domestic violence survivors.
By working closely with NNEDV and its membership of
domestic violence coalitions, the Allstate Foundation has
recently developed for the program an economic
empowerment curriculum to provide short- and long-term
strategies to address the financial challenges that many
survivors face. Allstate personal financial representatives
(PFRs) are partnering with local domestic violence coalitions
to implement the curriculum starting in mid-2007.
"That's what makes this program so unique," says
Shawndell Dawson, an economic justice specialist at NNEDV.
"Allstate PFRs equipped with great financial planning skills
are coming together with advocates to help problem-solve
these economic challenges with domestic violence survivors."
"It's been a huge success to have a corporation so
dedicated, and particularly to have its CEO take this issue on
so seriously," says Else. "Allstate is really leading the way,
and its example will encourage other companies to take a
look at what they're doing, both externally and internally, to
address this issue."
You too can take a stand against domestic violence by
clicking here and forwarding the information to family and
friends to raise awareness about this important issue. To
learn more ways you can make a difference, visit www.
nnedv.org.
For more information on the Allstate Foundation Domestic
Violence Program, go to Allstate's website.
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Fight Domestice Abuse
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How do you know if you are in an Abusive
Relationship?
Here are some warning signs that a relationship could be abusive.
Does your partner:
Because of your intimate relationship, do you:
abusive relationship. Help is available 24 hours a day by calling the
National Domestic Violence Hotline telephone number at 1–800–799–
SAFE (7233). (Or call the hotline's TTY number at 1–800–787–3224.)
(Source: Corporate Alliance to End Partner Violence)
Relationship?
Here are some warning signs that a relationship could be abusive.
Does your partner:
- Insult you in public and private?
- Constantly check up on you?
- Control what you do, who you see or talk to, or where you go?
- Put down your family and friends?
- Tell you jealousy is a sign of love?
- Shove, slap or hit you?
- Blame you for the abuse?
- Limit where you go and what you do?
- Try to control your money?
- Destroy your belongings?
- Threaten you, your family or pets–or threaten to hurt
himself/herself? - Touch you or act in ways that scare you?
- Tell you your fears are not important?
- Make all the decisions?
Because of your intimate relationship, do you:
- Get to work late due to problems with your partner?
- Have to hide bruises from your boss or co–workers?
- Find yourself frequently absent from work due to problems in
your intimate relationship? - Frequently break appointments with friends or family?
- Make excuses for your partner's behavior?
- Tell your boss or co–workers not to mention certain things in
front of your intimate partner? - Have difficulty keeping a job?
- Find it hard to concentrate on your job duties?
- Worry about receiving harassing telephone calls, visits, or faxes
at work?
abusive relationship. Help is available 24 hours a day by calling the
National Domestic Violence Hotline telephone number at 1–800–799–
SAFE (7233). (Or call the hotline's TTY number at 1–800–787–3224.)
(Source: Corporate Alliance to End Partner Violence)
What is Economic Abuse?
A complex combination of psychological, cultural, religious, familial
and economic factors contribute to a victim’s decision to remain in or
leave an abusive relationship. However, domestic violence victims
frequently cite income, employment and financial stability as the
strongest, most immediate deterrents to leaving abusive situations.
The devastation of leaving a home, income, benefits and economic
security behind are struggles that all victims of domestic violence must
overcome, regardless of their education, job skills and personal
earning potential, if they are to care for their families and live more safe
and secure lives.
According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence,
evidence has shown that women with economic skills are more likely
to leave abusive situations and sustain themselves and their families
on a long–term basis. Because the path to economic empowerment
requires time searching for jobs, participating in job–readiness
programs, finding affordable housing and childcare options, repairing
credit damaged by abusive partners, and dealing with the day–to–day
challenges of taking care of a family, it is not surprising that survivors of
domestic violence need unique assistance to become economically
secure.
Economic abuse is a tactic used to control a relationship by preventing
access to money or other economic resources. It might include:
To determine whether you are being abused economically, answer
these questions below.
Does your partner:
A complex combination of psychological, cultural, religious, familial
and economic factors contribute to a victim’s decision to remain in or
leave an abusive relationship. However, domestic violence victims
frequently cite income, employment and financial stability as the
strongest, most immediate deterrents to leaving abusive situations.
The devastation of leaving a home, income, benefits and economic
security behind are struggles that all victims of domestic violence must
overcome, regardless of their education, job skills and personal
earning potential, if they are to care for their families and live more safe
and secure lives.
According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence,
evidence has shown that women with economic skills are more likely
to leave abusive situations and sustain themselves and their families
on a long–term basis. Because the path to economic empowerment
requires time searching for jobs, participating in job–readiness
programs, finding affordable housing and childcare options, repairing
credit damaged by abusive partners, and dealing with the day–to–day
challenges of taking care of a family, it is not surprising that survivors of
domestic violence need unique assistance to become economically
secure.
Economic abuse is a tactic used to control a relationship by preventing
access to money or other economic resources. It might include:
- Controlling how money is spent
- Withholding money
- Withholding basic living resources, medication or food
- Not allowing the victim to work or earn money
- Stealing the victim’s identity, money, credit or property
To determine whether you are being abused economically, answer
these questions below.
Does your partner:
- Steal money from you or your family?
- Force you to give him or her access to your accounts?
- Make you feel as though you don’t have a right to know any
details about money or household resources? - Make financial or investment decisions that affect you or the
family without consulting or reaching agreement with you? - Refuse to include you in important meetings with banks,
financial planners or retirement specialists? - Prevent or forbid you to work or attend school or skill–training
sessions? - Overuse your credit cards or refuse to pay the bills (thus ruining
your credit)? - Force you to file fraudulent tax claims?
- Prevent you from owning or using credit cards or bank cards?
- Withhold physical resources including food, clothes, necessary
medications or shelter from you? - Force you to work in a family business for little or no pay?
- Refuse to work to help support the family?
- Interfere with work performance through harassing and
monitoring activities like frequent telephone calls or visits to
your workplace? - Force you to turn over your benefit payments?
- Threaten to report you for “cheating” on your benefits so that
your benefits will be cut off, even if you aren’t cheating? - Force you to cash in, sell or sign over any financial assets or
inheritance you own (e.g., bonds, stock or property)? - Force you to agree to power-of-attorney so he can sign legal
documents without your knowledge?
ALERT:Computer activity can be tracked. To exit
this site quickly, click here.
If you are in danger due to domestic violence,
dial 911
this site quickly, click here.
If you are in danger due to domestic violence,
dial 911
How can I help a friend
or family member who is
being abused?
Don’t be afraid to let him or her
know that you are concerned
for their safety. Help your friend
or family member recognize
the abuse. Tell him or her you
see what is going on and that
you want to help. Help them
recognize that what is
happening is not “normal” and
that they deserve a healthy,
non-violent relationship.
Acknowledge that he or she is
in a very difficult and scary
situation. Let your friend or
family member know that the
abuse is not their fault.
Reassure him or her that they
are not alone and that there is
help and support out there.
Be supportive. Listen to your
friend or family member.
Remember that it may be
difficult for him or her to talk
about the abuse. Let him or
her know that you are available
to help whenever they may
need it. What they need most
is someone who will believe
and listen to them.
Be non-judgmental. Respect
your friend or family member’s
decisions. There are many
reasons why victims stay in
abusive relationships. He or
she may leave and return to
the relationship many times.
Do not criticize his or her
decisions or try to guilt them.
He or she will need your
support even more during
those times.
Encourage him or her to
participate in activities outside
of the relationship with friends
and family.
If he or she ends the
relationship, continue to be
supportive of them. Even
though the relationship was
abusive, your friend or family
member may still feel sad and
lonely once it is over. He or she
will need time to mourn the
loss of the relationship and will
especially need your support at
that time.
Help him or her to develop a
safety plan.
Encourage him or her to talk to
people who can provide help
and guidance. Find a local
domestic violence agency that
provides counseling or support
groups. Offer to go with him or
her to talk to family and friends.
If he or she has to go to the
police, court or a lawyer, offer
to go along for moral support.
Remember that you cannot
“rescue” him or her. Although it
is difficult to see someone you
care about get hurt, ultimately
the person getting hurt has to
be the one to decide that they
want to do something about it.
It’s important for you to support
him or her and help them find
a way to safety and peace.
If you think your friend or family
member may be abusive, click
here to find out more.
Please call the 24-hour
National Domestic Violence
Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE
(7233) or TTY 1-800-787-3224
to discuss your concerns and
questions.
or family member who is
being abused?
Don’t be afraid to let him or her
know that you are concerned
for their safety. Help your friend
or family member recognize
the abuse. Tell him or her you
see what is going on and that
you want to help. Help them
recognize that what is
happening is not “normal” and
that they deserve a healthy,
non-violent relationship.
Acknowledge that he or she is
in a very difficult and scary
situation. Let your friend or
family member know that the
abuse is not their fault.
Reassure him or her that they
are not alone and that there is
help and support out there.
Be supportive. Listen to your
friend or family member.
Remember that it may be
difficult for him or her to talk
about the abuse. Let him or
her know that you are available
to help whenever they may
need it. What they need most
is someone who will believe
and listen to them.
Be non-judgmental. Respect
your friend or family member’s
decisions. There are many
reasons why victims stay in
abusive relationships. He or
she may leave and return to
the relationship many times.
Do not criticize his or her
decisions or try to guilt them.
He or she will need your
support even more during
those times.
Encourage him or her to
participate in activities outside
of the relationship with friends
and family.
If he or she ends the
relationship, continue to be
supportive of them. Even
though the relationship was
abusive, your friend or family
member may still feel sad and
lonely once it is over. He or she
will need time to mourn the
loss of the relationship and will
especially need your support at
that time.
Help him or her to develop a
safety plan.
Encourage him or her to talk to
people who can provide help
and guidance. Find a local
domestic violence agency that
provides counseling or support
groups. Offer to go with him or
her to talk to family and friends.
If he or she has to go to the
police, court or a lawyer, offer
to go along for moral support.
Remember that you cannot
“rescue” him or her. Although it
is difficult to see someone you
care about get hurt, ultimately
the person getting hurt has to
be the one to decide that they
want to do something about it.
It’s important for you to support
him or her and help them find
a way to safety and peace.
If you think your friend or family
member may be abusive, click
here to find out more.
Please call the 24-hour
National Domestic Violence
Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE
(7233) or TTY 1-800-787-3224
to discuss your concerns and
questions.
Teens and Dating
Abuse
Dating violence is a
pattern of controlling
behaviors that one partner
uses to get power over the
other, and it includes:
Do you:
Teens are seriously at risk
for dating violence.
Research shows that
physical or sexual abuse
is a part of 1 in 3 high
school relationships.
In 95% of abusive
relationships, men abuse
women. However, young
women can be violent, and
young men can also be
victims. Gay, lesbian,
bisexual and trans-
gendered teens are just
as at risk for abuse in their
relationships as anyone
else.
Abusive relationships have
good times and bad times.
Part of what makes dating
violence so confusing and
painful is that there is love
mixed with the abuse. This
can make it hard to tell if
you are really being
abused.
Unfortunately, without help,
the violence will only get
worse. If you think you may
be in an abusive
relationship, please call
the National Teen Dating
Abuse Helpline to talk with
someone about it. You can
also call the Helpline for
more information about
dating violence or other
resources for teens.
Abuse
Dating violence is a
pattern of controlling
behaviors that one partner
uses to get power over the
other, and it includes:
- Any kind of physical
violence or threat of
physical violence to
get control - Emotional or
mental abuse,
such as playing
mind games,
making you feel
crazy, or constantly
putting you down or
criticizing you - Sexual abuse,
including making
you do anything you
don’t want to,
refusing to have
safe sex or making
you feel badly
about yourself
sexually - Does your
boyfriend/girlfriend: - Have a history of
bad relationships
or past violence;
always blames
his/her problems
on other people; or
blames you for
“making” him/her
treat you badly? - Try to use drugs or
alcohol to coerce
you or get you
alone when you
don’t want to be? - Try to control you by
being bossy, not
taking your opinion
seriously or
making all of the
decisions about
who you see, what
you wear, what you
do, etc.? - Talk negatively
about people in
sexual ways or talk
about sex like it’s a
game or contest?
Do you:
- Feel less confident
about yourself
when you’re with
him/her? - Feel scared or
worried about
doing or saying
“the wrong thing?” - Find yourself
changing your
behavior out of fear
or to avoid a fight? - Dating violence is
more than just
arguing or fighting. - Teens who abuse
their girlfriends or
boyfriends do the
same things that
adults who abuse
their partners do.
Teen dating
violence is just as
serious as adult
domestic violence.
Teens are seriously at risk
for dating violence.
Research shows that
physical or sexual abuse
is a part of 1 in 3 high
school relationships.
In 95% of abusive
relationships, men abuse
women. However, young
women can be violent, and
young men can also be
victims. Gay, lesbian,
bisexual and trans-
gendered teens are just
as at risk for abuse in their
relationships as anyone
else.
Abusive relationships have
good times and bad times.
Part of what makes dating
violence so confusing and
painful is that there is love
mixed with the abuse. This
can make it hard to tell if
you are really being
abused.
Unfortunately, without help,
the violence will only get
worse. If you think you may
be in an abusive
relationship, please call
the National Teen Dating
Abuse Helpline to talk with
someone about it. You can
also call the Helpline for
more information about
dating violence or other
resources for teens.
Stalking
Stalking can be defined as a
pattern of repeated and
unwanted attention,
harassment, contact, or any
other course of conduct
directed at a specific person
that would cause a
reasonable person to feel
fear.
It is a course of conduct that
can include:
Center, National Center for
Victims of Crime
Stalking can be defined as a
pattern of repeated and
unwanted attention,
harassment, contact, or any
other course of conduct
directed at a specific person
that would cause a
reasonable person to feel
fear.
It is a course of conduct that
can include:
- Repeated, unwanted,
intrusive, and
frightening
communications from
the perpetrator by
phone, mail, and/or
email - Repeatedly leaving or
sending victim
unwanted items,
presents, or flowers - Following or laying in
wait for the victim at
places such as home,
school, work, or
recreation place - Making direct or
indirect threats to
harm the victim, the
victim's children,
relatives, friends, or
pets. - Damaging or
threatening to
damage the victim's
property - Harassing victim
through the internet - Posting information or
spreading rumors
about the victim on the
internet, in a public
place, or by word of
mouth - Obtaining personal
information about the
victim by accessing
public records, using
internet search
services, hiring private
investigators, going
through the victim's
garbage, following the
victim, contacting
victim's friends, family
work, or neighbors,
etc.
Center, National Center for
Victims of Crime
Workplace Violence:
Violence Can Happen Here
Workplace Violence
Examined
By Susan M. Heathfield,
About.com
A very real, clear and
present danger lurks just
beyond the
consciousness of people
who work together eight to
ten hours a day, five to
seven days a week. It is
the potential for violence to
occur in your workplace.
Increasingly, the Human
Resources function is both
the target of these threats
of workplace violence and
the organization's first line
of defense for the
prevention of workplace
violence.
What causes workplace
violence? Are violent
actions more likely to
occur at work? What
actions or changes tell an
organization that an
individual has the potential
to commit a violent act at
work? This article about
workplace violence
answers these questions
for the health and safety of
your employees.
More...
Violence Can Happen Here
Workplace Violence
Examined
By Susan M. Heathfield,
About.com
A very real, clear and
present danger lurks just
beyond the
consciousness of people
who work together eight to
ten hours a day, five to
seven days a week. It is
the potential for violence to
occur in your workplace.
Increasingly, the Human
Resources function is both
the target of these threats
of workplace violence and
the organization's first line
of defense for the
prevention of workplace
violence.
What causes workplace
violence? Are violent
actions more likely to
occur at work? What
actions or changes tell an
organization that an
individual has the potential
to commit a violent act at
work? This article about
workplace violence
answers these questions
for the health and safety of
your employees.
More...
