10 Teen Dating Abuse Facts (PDF)
This toolkit provides facts about teen dating abuse.
10 Things You Can Do To Promote Teen Dating Abuse Awareness (PDF)
This toolkit provides information on what youth can do to promote awareness of teen dating abuse in schools and communities.
A Development Approach to Working with Teen Victims (PDF)
This issue brief discusses the need for service providers to understand adolescent development in order to effectively provide interventions for teen victims of abuse.
A Guide for Effective Issuance & Enforcement of Protection Orders (PDF)
"This publication, also known as the Burgundy Book, was developed to give communities and professionals precise tools and strategies they can implement to broaden the effectiveness of protection orders, both from a practical standpoint and from a philosophical perspective. This guide is intended for advocates, civil attorneys, courts and judiciary, law enforcement and prosecutors."
A High-Tech Twist on Abuse: Technology, Intimate Partner Stalking, and Advocacy
This Violence Against Women Online Resources commissioned document summarizes the existing knowledge on the use of technology to stalk. The author uses both published literature and contributions provided by numerous survivors’ reports to provide current information on the variety of sophisticated tools that are being used to stalk current and former intimate partners. The article also provides specific strategies for advocates, including safety planning information, a resource list, and a handout for survivors.
A National Protocol for Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examinations Adult/Adolescents (PDF)
"This document is intended to improve the criminal justice system’s response to victims of sexual assault and the sexual assault forensic examination process."
A Practitioner's Guide to the Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act (PKPA) Custody Tools Series, 2004 (PDF)
An information sheet on the Parental Kidnapping and Prevention Act and how it relates to cases of domestic violence.
A Report from the 2003 Domestic Violence Safety and Accountability Audit: Prosecution Response to Misdemeanor Domestic Violence Cases Jackson County, Oregon (PDF)
"The audit in Jackson County was conceived to examine the response to domestic violence by the misdemeanor prosecution element of its criminal justice system. This report includes findings of the audit team and the consultant, within the context of accepted best practices; and recommendations of the audit team and the consultant, that the Jackson County Council Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, Community Works, and the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office can work together to implement in the months ahead."
A Report from the 2005 Domestic Violence Safety and Accountability Audit: Law Enforcement Response to Domestic Violence Calls (PDF)
This report reveals the audit work done in Jackson County that examines the dispatch and law enforcement response to the following aspects of domestic violence: dual arrests or arrests of women, sexual assault, stalking, strangulation, child witnesses, and when involved parties are from underserved populations such as communities of color, non-English speakers, individuals in gay or lesbian relationships, etc. Gaps in response to victim needs and recommendations are also provided.
A Victim-Centered Approach To Domestic Violence Against Native Women (PDF)
"This resource guide was developed to provide a starting point for drafting or revising tribal laws on domestic violence. It is written with a philosophy that tribal laws should reflect tribal values."
Accountability and Connection with Abusive Men (PDF)
"This document is an effort to remedy the excessive focus on mothers in cases involving domestic violence. It provides suggestions for connecting with and holding abusers accountable. It is a resource for child protection workers, supervisors, managers and others working with families involved in the child protection system."
Addressing Domestic Violence & Sexual Violence Against Asian & Pacific Islander Women: Strengthening Advocacy, Changing Communities (PDF)
"This manual presents training curricula for a range of issues affecting Asian and Pacific Islander battered women, advocates, and communities."
Addressing Domestic Violence in Indian Country (PDF)
This manual examines the reasons behind the presence of domestic violence in Native communities by looking at its historical origins and how to address it in the community.
Addressing Stalking in Native American Communities (PDF)
The Native American Circle, Ltd. and the Stalking Resource Center have defined project objectives and goals as: assist tribal nations in developing tribal legal codes, provide educational materials and training programs, develop model protocol for use by tribal nations to implement coordinated, multidisciplinary responses to stalking crimes in Indian country, assist in forming dedicated teams of police officers, prosecutors, court personnel, and parole and probation officers, identify promising practices to prevent and reduce stalking in domestic violence cases, and provide technical assistance and training in the use of federal laws regarding interstate stalking.
Advocacy Beyond Leaving (PDF)
"This Guide offers practical suggestions to assist advocates working day to day with victims. Using the familiar and concrete framework of woman-defined advocacy, the Guide explains advocates’ important role in safety planning when victims are in contact with current or former partners."
Advocacy Matters: Helping Mothers and Their Children Involved with the Child Protection System (PDF)
"This manual is intended for advocates working with women involved with the child protection system. It's purpose is to underscore the importance of the advocates work, provide tips for how to improve practice in this area, and inspire them to better understand women’s situations and help them be safe and self-sufficient." Related publications and resources are highlighted."
An Advocate's Guide to Full Faith and Credit
This guide was developed for advocates who assist victims of domestic violence with orders for protection. It provides a glossary of full faith and credit terminology, advocate tips, and information about enforcement of full faith and credit legislation.
Annual Report on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Domestic Violence in 2000 (PDF)
This report describes incidents of domestic violence in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community that were reported during the year 2000 to community-based anti-violence organizations in nine regions throughout the U.S.
Annual Report on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Domestic Violence in 1998
The purpose of this report is to investigate the following research questions and to summarize findings: 1) How prevalent is domestic violence among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people? 2) Do state statutes permit victims of same-sex domestic violence to obtain domestic violence protective orders? Footnotes are downloadable in Microsoft Word as well.
Anticipate: Identifying Victim Strengths and Planning for Safety Concerns - Participant Handouts (PDF)
This is the participant handout for the Anticipate: Identifying Victim Strengths and Planning for Safety Concerns training.
Anticipate: Identifying Victim Strengths and Planning for Safety Concerns - Power Point (PDF)
This is the power point presentation for the Anticipate: Identifying Victim Strengths and Planning for Safety Concerns training.
Anticipate: Identifying Victim Strengths and Planning for Safety Concerns - Training Guide (PDF)
This is a training guide that is designed "to enhance the safety planning skills of professionals who work with older victims and/or people with disabilities."
Assisting Immigrant Victims of Domestic Violence - Advocate's Guide (PDF)
"This guide for advocates and volunteers focuses on the needs of newly-arrived battered immigrant women whose immigration status is unsettled."
Assisting Survivors With Housing Issues (PDF)
This document provides information on issues relating to domestic violence and housing. These issues range from termination of a lease to transferring to another housing unit. Legal court cases are cited to provide information on victim's rights on this issue.
Balancing Obligations: Serving Teen Victims and Mandated Reporting of Statutory Rape (PDF)
This issue brief addresses the importance of preserving confidentiality while working with teen victims of abuse, at the same time fulfilling the service provider's legal duties.
Becoming an Expert Witness & Developing Your Curriculum Vita or Resume (PDF)
This guide provides domestic violence advocates tips on how prepare to become an expert witness in trials and hearings.
Beyond Observation: Considerations for Advancing Domestic Violence Practice in Supervised Visitation (PDF)
"This paper presents considerations for expanded practice in the Supervised Visitation Grant Program and describes interventions that go beyond observation in the supervised visitation setting."
Breaking the Cycle: Fathering After Violence
"Breaking the Cycle, Fathering After Violence: Curriculum Guidelines and Tools for Batterer Intervention Programs offers information, exercises and more to help batterer intervention programs begin these essential conversations."
Breaking the Silence: A Training Manual for Activists, Advocates and Latina Organizers (PDF)
"This training manual provides basic information about immigrant rights, how the system that protect domestic violence survivors works, and how to overcome the barriers that block immigrant survivors of domestic violence from accessing the available protections from abuse."
Bridging Domestic Violence Intervention and Community Policing: Partnership and Problem-Solving Tools (PDF)
This document presents ideas, concepts, and strategies to encourage community-based domestic violence advocates and their law enforcement allies to consider new approaches to partnership and problem-solving.
Bringing Domestic Violence Best Practices to New York’s Town and Village Courts (PDF)
The purpose of this document is to gain a deeper understanding of the domestic violence policies and practices implemented in New York’s rural town and village courts and to measure the impact of trainings on these practices.
Building Bridges Between Domestic Violence Organizations and Child Protective Services
This paper provides both background information and a framework for collaboration with child protection agencies that will support the work of domestic violence advocates as they try to improve safety for women and their children.
Building the Rythm of Change: Developing Leadership and Improving Services within the Battered Rural Immigrant Women's Community (PDF)
"This manual provides suggestions and guidance on how to organize a similar project aimed at improving services and eliminating barriers to safety for battered immigrant women by empowering the women."
Campus Dating Violence Fact Sheet (PDF)
This fact sheet provides information about dating violence on college campuses.
Chaplaincy Services Brochure (PDF)
"One of several documents developed and used by Safe Havens Interfaith Partnership Against Domestic Violence during Chaplaincy Program trainings. This document is designed to screen potential Chaplaincy volunteers before any training takes place. The Brochure presents some of the special qualities that are necessary to be a safe and effective PFJCI Chaplaincy volunteer."
Child and Family Service Review Outcomes: Strategies to Improve Domestic Violence Responses in CFSR Program Improvement Plans (PDF)
"Child and Family Service Reviews (CFSRs) evaluate public child welfare systems to determine how well they achieve safety, permanency, and well-being in difficult situations of neglect, physical and sexual abuse, and co-existing domestic violence, substance abuse, mental health issues, poverty, and community violence. This guide can help stakeholders develop effective (Program Improvement Plans) PIPs for achieving safety, permanency, and well-being in domestic violence cases, and to identify or anticipate related technical assistance needs."
Collaborating to Help Trafficking Survivors (PDF)
"This manual is for those committed to assisting trafficking survivors, especially sexual assault and domestic violence advocates and their allies in the criminal and legal systems who have basic knowledge of the trafficking assistance process."
Community Policing to Prevent Violence Against Women
This document is a training manual provided by PERF to advocates, police, social service providers, and other violence-against-women professionals. It is a resource guide for community-policing approaches to reducing and preventing violence-against-women.
Community-Based Analysis of the U.S. Legal System's Intervention in Domestic Abuse Cases Involving Indigenous Women (PDF)
"This is a report about institutional processes within the U.S. legal system and their impact on the lives of Indigenous women who are battered."
Confidentiality and Information Sharing Issues for Domestic Violence Advocates Working with Child Protection and Juvenile Court Systems (PDF)
"This paper explains basic advocacy practice and legal concepts related to information sharing and provides a framework for making decisions about how to handle and use information when working with women involved in the child protection or juvenile court systems."
Conversations with Mothers of Color Who Have Experienced Domestic Violence Regarding Working with Men to End Domestic Violence (PDF)
This document explores the attitudes and perceptions of women of color survivors with children. The overarching objective was to hear what women had to say about efforts to engage men and fathers of color as allies in stopping intimate partner violence and restoring health in partnership and parenting. The research was undertaken by the Family Violence Prevention Fund as part of the development of our national violence prevention campaign.
Creating Open, Welcoming, and Safe Settings for a Ministry of Presence (PDF)
"One of several documents developed and used by Safe Havens Interfaith Partnership Against Domestic Violence during Chaplaincy Program trainings. This document presents ways to enact the protocols set out in Manna in the Wilderness. "
Criminal Domestic Violence Case Processing: A Case Study of the Five Boroughs of New York City (PDF)
A study of the five boroughs of New York City in which domestic violence criminal case processing exist. The study seeks to establish what the policies and practices of the domestic violence courts are, to understand their underlying rationale, and to learn what the stakeholders perceive as their strengths and weaknesses.
Criminal Prosecution of Battered Native Women for Failure to Protect (PDF)
This document provides an overview of the criminal prosecution of battered native women for failure to protect and the impact of laws and policies.
Culture Handbook (PDF)
"This handbook is designed to be used by advocates and professionals who work with those who are victims of domestic and sexual violence. It provides some basic information on how to understand culture and begin the process of challenging oneself to become more aware of the ways in which culture impacts our work and the lives of those who are victims."
Developing Services for Older Abused Women: A Guide for Domestic Abuse Programs (PDF)
"This packet provides information on developing services for older abused women in an existing domestic abuse program."
DNA Evidence: Enhancing Law Enforcement’s Impact From Crime Scene to Courtroom and Beyond (PDF)
"This report attempts to capture the issues and concerns identified and the recommendations related to crime victims, DNA evidence, and the criminal justice system that emerged from the sharing of so many varied perspectives."
Does My Client Need An I-192? U Visas and Inadmissibility Issues - Power Point (PDF)
This power point is intended to help advocates and attorneys know when their client needs the I-192, how to prepare the package on U visa cases and potential challenges and how to address them.
Domestic Violence Civil Protection Orders (CPOs) By State (PDF)
A chart that lists domestic violence civil protection orders (CPOs) by state.
Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault & Stalking Prevention and Intervention in Rural Native American Communities: Training, Research and Education Programs
A comprehensive training manual for rural Native American communities addressing domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking through training, research and educational programming. Note: This document provides a general overview. When developing a plan for your community, look to your own tribal codes and state and federal laws concerning confidentiality and explore methods which can be used in the civil or criminal justice arenas which would enhance victim safety.
Educating to End Domestic Violence: A Law School Report
This report stems from a meeting of a select group of law school professors who teach domestic violence seminars or clinical programs. They provide information about current law school practices and recommendations for the future.
Effective Intervention in Domestic Violence & Child Maltreatment Cases (Executive Summary)
This is an executive summary of the document "Effective Intervention in Domestic Violence & Child Maltreatment Cases: Guidelines for Policies and Practice." The aim of this document is to offer a more comprehensive set of responses to eliminate or decrease the enormous risks that individual battered mothers, caseworkers, and judges must take on behalf of children.
Elder Abuse in Tribal Communities (PDF)
This document provides an overview and resources on elder abuse in tribal communities.
Ensuring Forensic Medical Exams for All Sexual Assault Victims: A Toolkit for States and Territories (PDF)
This "toolkit is designed to help states and territories address compliance with federal statute to ensure that victims of sexual assault can get a forensic medical exam free of charge or with full reimbursement regardless of whether they report the crime to police or otherwise cooperate with the criminal justice system."
Facts & Stats: Domestic Violence in Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Homes (PDF)
This document "raises awareness about the experiences of Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander battered women; counters denial about the problem; emphasizes the need for socio-culturally effective prevention and intervention; and serves to guide future research and inform public policy."
Family Team Conferences in Domestic Violence Cases: Guidelines for Practice (PDF)
"These revised guidelines further describe the thoughtful and safe use of Family Team Conferences (FTCs) for families affected by domestic violence. The guidelines are designed to provide useful information for trained FTC facilitators and FTC participants, including domestic violence advocates, batterer intervention staff, other community based service providers, and extended family members."
Fathering After Violence: Working with Abusive Fathers in Supervised Visitation (PDF)
"This guide is intended to assist Supervised Visitation Program or SVP that want to enhance the safety and well-being of women and children by working more deliberately with abusive fathers who use the centers to visit their children."
Federal Interstate Stalking Law
Provides definitions and interpretations of the Federal Interstate Stalking Law.
Female Officers as Victims of Police-Perpetrated Domestic Violence (PDF)
"The purpose of this article is to increase advocates' knowledge of how the expectations and values of the female officer's profession and workplace culture influence her behavior and decisions regarding her abusive relationship. The article discusses some of the ways police culture can contribute to the isolation of its female members and condition them to tolerate and even accept men's disrespect, negative attitudes, and potentially, domestic abuse."
Final Report: Focus Group on Public Law 280 and the Sexual Assault of Native Women (PDF)
This is the final report from the "focus group on the Oneida Indian Reservation in Green Bay, Wisconsin that discussed challenges to, and opportunities for, collaboration between states and tribes in Public Law 280 jurisdictions to address sexual assault in Indian country."
Full Faith and Credit Implementation: Challenges and Solutions
This chapter identifies some of the stumbling blocks to implementation of full faith and credit, including xenophobia, reluctance to change, and procedure-driven traditions of law enforcement. It offers an outline for a problem-solving approach.
Golden Voices: Support Groups for Older Abused Women (PDF)
"The purpose of this manual is to help professionals create or enhance a support group for older abused women."
Guiding Principles for Safe Havens: Supervised Visitation and Safe Exchange Grant Program (PDF)
"This document was designed to guide the development and administration of Supervised Visitation Program centers with an eye toward addressing the needs of child(ren) and adult victims of domestic violence in visitation and exchange settings. The Guiding Principles look beyond the visitation setting to address how communities funded under the Supervised Visitation Program should address domestic violence in the larger community."
Having A Problem With An Account? (PDF)
This is a list of links and numbers for customer support if you are having problems with an account.
Housing Rights of Survivors with Disabilities (PDF)
"Common housing issues that survivors with disabilities face; housing rights and protections available for survivors with disabilities; and using reasonable accommodation laws to advocate for survivors’ housing needs."
Human Trafficking and the T-visa (PDF)
This document provides an overview of human trafficking and the T-visa.
Impact of the Law on Service to Teens (PDF)
This issue brief discusses the challenges that laws at the state and federal level pose, how they can impact the way service providers serve teens and how teens respond to adult interventions. Suggested strategies are given for programs and agencies working to serve teen victims of abuse.
In the Best Interest of Women and Children: A Call for Collaboration Between Child Welfare and Domestic Violence Constituencies
This is a briefing paper prepared for a Wingspread Conference of a similar title. It discusses family violence, specifically against women and children, barriers to helping the victims, and the importance of collaboration to effect change.
Increasing Your Safety: Full Faith and Credit for Protection Orders
This guide explains Full Faith and Credit law and offers ideas about where to get help if you have problems with enforcement of a protection order.
Info Sharing (PDF)
"This paper uses the phrase “information sharing” to describe the range of information-related issues advocates face when working with CPS and Juvenile Court. Protecting battered women’s and children’s privacy, supporting a woman’s right to control information about her family, asserting confidentiality and other legal protections, and meeting mandated reporting requirements are all part of the broad category of “information sharing” issues."
Innovative Strategies to Address Domestic Violence in Asian and Pacific Islander Communities: Examining Models, Themes and Interventions (PDF)
This report addresses API domestic violence intervention strategies within the U.S. as both accommodations and alternatives to mainstream domestic violence programs. They have adopted mainstream assumptions and approaches. And, they have crafted innovations based upon necessity and, in some cases, vision and intentionality. Emerging themes as discussed by the API women interviewed in this report highlight a number of areas which capture our attention for further exploration. While the findings of this report bring up broad, diverse and, at times, contradictory policies and practices among API programs, existing models, themes and interventions for the future programs are examined.
Interactive Training Exercises on Abuse in Later Life (PDF)
This is a curriculum that includes "interactive exercises on a variety of topics. These exercises blend all learning styles: kinesthetic, which encourages audience participation and movement; visual, which involves inclusion of pictures, graphs and other visual images; and auditory, which includes discussion and summary of key training points."
Interfaith Chaplaincy in Federally Funded Settings (PDF)
"One of several documents that were developed and used by Safe Havens Interfaith Partnership Against Domestic Violence during Chaplaincy Program trainings. Included in this document are guidelines to make sure Chaplaincy Services are voluntary, non-coercive, inclusive of all faith communities, and not exclusive of any particular faith."
International Online Resources on Stalking
Annotated list of international stalking resources.
Intersection of Domestic Violence and Child Victimization in Indian Country (PDF)
This document provides an overview of the "destructive effects of domestic violence on children, families, and communities which are magnified by the intergenerational trauma that Native American families and communities have experienced since colonization began."
Introducing Expert Testimony to Explain Victim Behavior in Sexual and Domestic Violence Prosecutions (PDF)
"This monograph sets forth recommended practices for addressing victims behavior in a sexual or domestic violence prosecution, and providing an accurate context in which a jury can evaluate a victim's behavior."
Key Provisions of UCCJA, PKPA, UCCJEA, & ICWA and Improvements Made by the UCCJEA for Battered Women (PDF)
This document provides a flow chart of various child custody laws in the United States, with a special focus on state and tribal court jurisdictions.
La Crosse County Domestic Violence Safety and Accountability Audit Phase 2: Post-Arrest through Prosecution, Findings and Recommendations, 2007 (PDF)
"The La Crosse County Safety Audit explored how post-arrest and prosecution responses to domestic violence cases in La Crosse County enhance or diminish victim safety and batterer accountability. This report sums up the audit and identifies gaps to address in the ongoing intervention in domestic violence in La Crosse County. Findings and recommendations are also provided."
Leadership + Systems Change = Sustainability (PDF)
"The purpose of this report is to provide a summary of the Leadership + Systems Change = Sustainability pilot program, including initial outcomes. It draws extensively upon the stories and experiences of the advocates and faith leaders who worked in partnership with TC-TAT as well as from evaluations throughout the pilot program."
List of Extreme Hardship Factors for U Visa Cases (PDF)
This is a comparative list of possible factors that will be considered in making the extreme hardship determination for the U Visa.
Mandatory Reporting of Elder Abuse: Implications for Domestic Violence Advocates (PDF)
"This issue paper is designed to assist domestic violence advocates in finding the necessary information to engage in critical analysis of how to provide safety and women- defined or victim centered advocacy in an environment of mandatory reporting of elder abuse."
Manna in the Wilderness: Protocols for Providing PFJCI Chaplaincy Services to Domestic Violence Survivors (PDF)
"One of several documents developed and used by Safe Havens Interfaith Partnership Against Domestic Violence during Chaplaincy Program trainings. This document sets out five protocols that Chaplaincy Service programs need to adopt to provide safe, confidential, and effective services to victims of domestic violence."
Model Code On Domestic and Family Violence (PDF)
Model Code on Domestic and Family Violence is a brief description of the Model Code (1994), which is available from the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges and posted by the American Bar Association.
Myths & Realities of Identity Change (PDF)
This document explains the myths and realities of changing a person's identity.
National Domestic Abuse in Later Life Resource Directory (PDF)
This is a state based directory of resources that are focused on abuse in later life.
NHLP Housing Rights of Domestic Violence Survivors - Power Point (PDF)
"Common housing issues survivors face; overview of federally assisted housing programs; VAWA’s housing provisions; fair housing protections for survivors; state law protections; and advocacy strategies."
Outreach and Training for Local Faith-Based Organizations in Your PFJCI Community (PDF)
"This document is a tool that can help you develop outreach and training for the faith-based organizations in your PFJCI community."
Overview: Name Change Laws (PDF)
This an overview of name change laws.
PFJCI Webinar (PDF)
"This webinar was presented in December 2008 by Rev. Dr. Anne Marie Hunter, Director of Safe Havens. The purpose of the webinar is to explain the history behind Safe Havens involvement with the President’s Family Justice Center Initiative and the technical assistance that Safe Havens provided to the 15 Family Justice Centers across the United States."
Predictors of Program Outcome and Recidivism at the Bronx Misdemeanor Domestic Violence Court (PDF)
In this study, the authors examine cases in the Bronx for possible correlates of program mandate non-completion and recidivism. A literature review of domestic violence prevention and intervention programs is presented followed by the research study and outcomes.
Privacy & Safety Planning With Survivors (PDF)
This document offers tip on privacy and safety planning with survivors when relocating.
Project Leadership in Multi-System Change Efforts to Address the Co-Occurrence of Domestic Violence and Child Maltreatment (PDF)
"This document shares many of the leadership lessons from the perspective of the Greenbook project directors and is one of several publications that document the Greenbook sites’ experience."
Prosecution Diversion in Domestic Violence: Issues and Context (PDF)
This paper examines the issues surrounding prosecution diversion and the context for reconsidering its role and related cautions in promoting victim safety and offender accountability in cases involving domestic violence.
Raising Our Voices: Queer Asian Women's Response to Relationship Violence (PDF)
This report is based on information derived from both the local and national groups. The goal of this report is to encourage all domestic violence programs to provide services to not only the queer Asian women's community, but to all under-served communities.
Re-Examining ‘Battering’: Are All Acts of Violence Against Intimate Partners the Same? (PDF)
"This article differentiates among five categories of domestic violence by analyzing the dynamics, nuance and components of intimate partner violence, with the idea that this critical comprehension is vital in creating intervention and prevention models that befit the behavior. Grasping important differences in partner violence is crucial for researchers, practitioners and advocates for developing effective interventions for victims and perpetrators."
Reasonable Efforts Checklist for Dependency Cases Involving Domestic Violence (PDF)
"The purpose of this checklist is to assist dependency court judges in identifying factors that should be considered when making reasonable efforts determinations in cases involving domestic violence."
Relationship Violence in Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender/Queer (LGBTQ) Communities: Moving Beyond a Gender-Based Framework
This Violence Against Women Online Resources commissioned document provides a critical overview of the current research on the contexts, dynamics, and impact of relationship violence within lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (lgbtq) communities. This document also identifies several barriers that still exist within support services when responding to this form of violence. The paper concludes by offering recommendations and considerations for the criminal justice and social service community and provides examples of innovative responses and programs that have been developed within lgbtq communities.
Resource Center
This resource center from the Teen Dating Abuse Helpline website offers a wide variety of resources for people in abusive relationships, their friends, families, and loved ones.
Safety Planning With Teens (PDF)
An issue brief created by Break the Cycle for those working with teens on safety planning issues.
Safety Planning: A Guide for Individuals with Physical Disabilities (PDF)
"This safety plan is designed to help adults with physical disabilities who have been or may be abused by an intimate partner, spouse, adult child, other family member, personal assistant, or caregiver and can also be useful for people with mental, cognitive, developmental disabilities, and those who have hidden disabilities."
Safety Planning: How You Can Help (PDF)
"This booklet describes things to consider when creating a safety plan with a person with cognitive disabilities."
Sexual Assault Civil Protection Orders by State (PDF)
A chart that lists sexual assault civil protection orders (CPOs) by state.
Sexual Assault in Indian Country: Confronting Sexual Violence (PDF)
This document highlights certain types of sexual assault evidence and presents it within the historical treatment of native populations, jurisdictional problems and prevalence of violence.
Sexual Assault Incident Reports: Investigative Strategies (PDF)
This document provides guidelines and strategies that are based upon national best practices regarding sexual assault incident investigations and support for officers and departments in preparing sexual assault cases for successful prosecution through detailed case documentation and thorough investigations.
Sexual Assault Response Teams: Resource Guide for the Development of a Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) in Tribal Communities (PDF)
This manual will assist tribal communities in instituting effective, integrated policies and procedures for the investigation, prosecution, and provision of services in sexual assault cases for Native women.
Should Childhood Exposure to Adult Domestic Violence Be Defined as Child Maltreatment Under the Law?
Published as a chapter in Protecting Children From Domestic Violence: Strategies for Community Intervention (2004), this article reviews the research on childhood exposure to domestic violence and emerging laws aimed at protecting these children. The author concludes with an argument against assuming that childhood exposure to violence is automatically a form of child maltreatment and suggests the need to modify child protection services and the expansion of primarily voluntary community-based responses to these children and their families.
Six Crucial Issues in Supervised Visitation
This article describes six crucial issues that may decide how victims, their children, and their communities experience supervised visitation. These issues, based upon research and experience from supervised visitation providers nationally, are: how staff and volunteer training can enhance victim safety; how risk assessment tools can help staff identify dangers; how stalking can be reduced at supervised visitation programs; how liability issues can be addressed at programs; how court orders can increase protection for victims and children; and how staff can avoid unintended outcomes in program record keeping.
Skills for the Desert Journey: Spiritual Care and Faith Resources (PDF)
"One of several documents developed and used by Safe Havens Interfaith Partnership Against Domestic Violence during Chaplaincy Program trainings. This document discusses the importance of faith and spirituality when addressing domestic violence."
Specialized Criminal Domestic Violence Courts
National Center for State Courts surveyed courts by mail in 1998 and received approximately 200 responses indicating that the court had some type of specialized procedures for domestic violence cases. This article provides a basic overview of issues involved in the specialization of criminal domestic courts.
Suggestions for Starting or Refocusing a Women of Color Caucus
The Women of Color Leadership project created suggestions for Women of Color who are considering or have decided to start a Women of Color Caucus. Caucuses have long been recognized as an effective mechanism for people who share a common identity, experience or commitment to an issue to network and build support.
Supervised Visitation Programs: Information for Mothers Who Have Experienced Abuse (PDF)
"This guide was created for mothers who have experienced abuse and whose children are involved in supervised visitation programs. The guide provides information about how the programs work and how mothers can prepare themselves and their children for the experience."
Sustainability 101 Fostering Collaboration Between SANE Program Coordinators and Medical Directors (PDF)
In addition to collaboration between Sexual Assault Response Teams (SARTs), community partners and other agencies, this document talks about the importance of collaboration between SANEs and physician colleagues to assist with the credibility and sustainability of a SANE Program.
Technology and Teen Dating Violence (PDF)
This issue brief explains the ways technology can be used as tools of abuse. It offers tips to providers working on safety planning with teens experiencing abuse.
Teen Dating Abuse: The Basics (PDF)
This toolkit provides statistics and information about teen dating abuse.
Teen Tools: Help for Teenage Victims of Crime (PDF)
This is a resource sheet for teenage victims of crime.
Testifying About Lethality Risk Factors (PDF)
This document provides information about "lethality risk factors, which are helpful in assessing the batterer’s potential to kill or cause death."
Testifying About Self-Defense and Pre-Dominant Aggressors (PDF)
This document provides information about "expert witness testimonies that can help the judge or jury understand the dynamics of domestic violence so that they can make informed, appropriate decisions in cases involving a victim’s use of self-defense or in cases where there is a question as to which party was the predominant aggressor."
The Community Engagement Continuum: Outreach, Mobilization, Organizing and Accountability to Address Violence Against Women in Asian and Pacific Islander Communities (PDF)
This report conceptualizes the Community Engagement Continuum in order to categorize a range of community based approaches in the anti-violence movement and to clarify the goals of engagement. The four points on the continuum--community outreach and education, community mobilization, community organizing, and community accountability--are defined by the level to which the strategies used lead to increases in the community's capacity to transform relations of power.
The Facts about Domestic Violence
This fact sheet provides current information and statistics on domestic violence. Information includes a working definition, exploration of how different communities are affected by domestic violence and legal protections for victims of domestic violence.
The Facts about Sexual Violence
This fact sheet provides current information and statistics on sexual violence. Information includes a working definition, explanation of different forms of sexual violence and legal protections for victims of sexual violence.
The Facts about Stalking
This fact sheet provides current information and statistics on stalking. Information includes a working definition, exploration of different forms of stalking and legal protections for victims of stalking.
The Facts about Teen Dating Violence
This fact sheet provides current information and statistics on teen dating violence. Information includes a working definition, exploration of different forms of teen dating violence and legal protections for victims of teen dating violence.
The Full Faith and Credit Project
An overview of the Full Faith and Credit Project, including their history, mission, and plans for the future. Updated June 2000.
The Military Response to Victims of Domestic Violence: Tools for Civilian Advocates (PDF)
This handbook is designed for civilian advocates working with military victims of domestic violence—both active duty victims and partners of active duty service members—to help advocates respond to the uniquely challenging needs of this population of survivors.
The Principles of Advocacy: A Guide for Sexual Assault Advocates (PDF)
This document provides "a better understanding of the far-reaching impact of sexual assault against American Indian and Alaskan Native women by exploring specific elements of perceptions, policy, and other key factors in order to determine the scope of the problem."
The Violence Against Women Act: A Housing Toolkit for Advocates (PDF)
"The toolkit is designed to provide advocates with an overview of VAWA’s housing provisions and includes administrative guidance, recent legal developments, and sample advocacy materials."
Toolkit to End Violence Against Women (PDF)
A web-based resource that will provide the guidance necessary to assist communities in their efforts to end violence against women.
Una Historia Real: Cosechando Mis Derechos La Historia de Sarita (PDF)
This document provides information and resources for Spanish speaking rural women who are victims of domestic abuse.
Understanding Women’s Experiences Parenting in the Context of Domestic Violence: Implications for Community and Court-Related Service Providers
This Violence Against Women Online Resources commissioned document describes the intersection between woman abuse and parenting. The authors identify and discuss seven central themes that highlight the challenges of parenting in the context of woman abuse. Specific implications and recommendations for community and court service providers are also offered.
Unheard Voices: Domestic Violence in the Asian American Community (PDF)
This report examines the strategy and methodology used in collecting critical information about the attitudes as well as the strategies used by the varied Asian American communities to combat domestic violence. Focus groups were organized to examine common cultural attitudes and beliefs on domestic violence among the Asian immigrant groups. The findings of these focus groups are discussed.
VAWA 2005 Immigration Provisions (PDF)
This is a brief overview of the VAWA 2005 immigration provisions.
VAWA 2005: Analysis and Practice Pointers (PDF)
This is a summary of the VAWA 2005 Immigration Provisions that is organized by topic: (1) a new DNA testing law that applies to all detained noncitizens; (2) expanding access and general provisions for self-petitioners, Us and Ts; (3) removing barriers for applicants subject to removal; (4) amendments to U and T visas; (5) new options for domestic violence survivors; (6) fixes to existing VAWA provisions; and (7) a summary of the new system for fiancée visas.
VAWA Housing Brochure (PDF)
This brochure is about the rights of domestic violence victims living in assisted housing.
Victim Responses to Sexual Assault: Counterintuitive or Simply Adaptive? (PDF)
"This resource provides information on the different responses that individuals who are sexually assaulted display as well as the different coping strategies of victims."
Victim-Defendants: An Emerging Challenge in Responding to Domestic Violence in Seattle and the King County Region
This report contains information for practitioners and policy-makers in criminal justice and community-based agencies who share the goal of ensuring safety, justice, and support for domestic violence survivors who commit domestic violence-related crimes. The authors welcome feedback from readers on whether they know of programs specifically for DV survivors who have been arrested and charged with DV-related crimes. This information would be added to an updated report. Feedback can be sent to info@kccadv.org.
Violence Against Native Women: A Guide for Practitioner Action (PDF)
"This paper is intended to serve as a guide to practitioners who represent Native women who are the victims of domestic and sexual violence. It is dedicated to the brave Native women whose faces are behind the horrifying statistics."
When a Youth is Victimized (PDF)
This document provides information on how to help a youth who has been victimized by crime.
When the Batterer is a Law Enforcement Officer: A Guide for Advocates (PDF)
"This manual is intended for advocates who work with victims whose abusers are members of law enforcement. It explores the reasons why familiar remedies are often inadequate against an officer batterer's power and control over the victim and his influence within the criminal justice system. It challenges us to find alternatives, and to hold both police officer batterers and policing accountable for violence against women and their children."
Working Effectively with the Police: A Guide for Battered Women's Advocates
Revised August 2001. Battered women's advocates and police departments in several jurisdictions have been successful in developing a more effective police response to domestic assault cases. This article highlights information advocates need in order to work collaboratively and effectively with police officers and other law enforcement personnel. The author discusses the changes police officers have made regarding when and how they arrest, investigate, write reports, and how they work with and support prosecutors and victim advocates.