In recognition of Women's History Month, we want to honor the legacy of the Battered Women's Movement. Historically, Domestic Violence has been categorized as a form of gender-based violence due to the disproportionate number of survivors who identify as Women. That said, it would be remiss not to acknowledge that anyone can be a survivor of relationship violence, regardless of gender, age, background, etc.
As we enter the month of February, we want to recognize it as Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. Teen Dating Violence (TDV) and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) between teens is often overlooked. However, as we honor survivors and recognize their resilience, we’d also like to highlight the prevalence of this issue.
While most people look forward to big sporting events for the love of the game, the energy, and the celebration, there is another side to these large-scale events that often goes unnoticed. For survivors of domestic violence and for individuals experiencing human trafficking, this time can be especially difficult.
According to American Addiction Centers:
In 2016, alcohol caused approximately 90,000 domestic violence deaths worldwide.
Alcohol or drug use is involved in 40-60% of domestic abuse situations.
More than half of individuals who abuse their elder parents (age 60 or older) are dependent on alcohol or drugs . . .
“During the holidays, abuse can escalate or can intertwine with the kinds of stressors anyone may face this time of year—financial strains, family demands, travel plans, hosting duties—in ways that increase danger and instability,” explained La Casa’s Executive Director, Kathy Black. “There can also be the perception that services slow down or aren’t there for people during the holidays. At La Casa, it’s just the opposite."
Read about potential holiday triggers and tips to cope.
It’s back to school time in San Francisco! At La Casa’s emergency shelter there is a flurry of excitement in the air as our families prepare for the first day of school, seeing friends again and returning to a weekly school schedule. Returning to school or starting a new school can be a stressful time and It is important to set aside space to process these new changes and how they affect each individual differently depending on their experience.
Volunteers who generously give their time, energy, and skills in wide-ranging ways are truly at the heart of La Casa’s work, helping to ensure and sustain our free, confidential services 24/7/365. La Casa welcomes the 4 newest graduates of our Domestic Violence Counselor Training, who finished the month-long program on July 1st and are beginning to dive into involvement across our various programs!
Abuse affects people of all gender identities and sexual orientations. Throughout the month of June, we celebrate the diversity and equality of all individuals, and speak out against the discrimination and violence directed at the LGBT community. LGBTQ survivors face uniquely challenging barriers to accessing support...
