Wear purple and show your support for survivors and for ending
domestic violence in our (Jefferson County) community!

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Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) was launched nationwide in October 1987 as a way to connect and unite individuals and organizations working on domestic violence issues and raise awareness for those issues.

Over the last three decades, much progress has been made to support domestic violence victims and survivors, to hold abusers accountable and to create and update legislation to further those goals.
Domestic violence is an epidemic affecting individuals in every community regardless of age, economic status, sexual orientation, gender, race, religion or nationality.
You may be experiencing domestic violence if your partner is doing any of these or other unwanted behaviors:
• Kicks, pushes, hits, slaps, burns, cuts or commits other physical acts toward you
• Curses, yells or calls you names
• Threatens to kill you, someone you love or your pet
• Forces or coerces you to have sex or other unwanted sexual activities
• Punches walls, breaks/throws things or drives dangerously to scare you

Abuse isn’t always physical, it can also include:
• Controlling all or most of your money or resources
• Extreme jealously or possessiveness
• Threatening to take your children or not allowing you to see them
• Not allowing you to see friends or family
• Not allowing you to get medical help or social services
• Threatening to have you deported
• Monitoring where you go

Domestic violence is the willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault and/or other abusive behavior as part of a systematic pattern of power and control perpetrated by one intimate partner against another.

Should you decide to leave your relationship, planning may increase your safety. Leaving can be very dangerous and should be planned carefully. You may want to file for an Injunction of Protection at your local courthouse, prepare a safety plan, receive free confidential counseling and support, relocating, receive free emergency shelter and referrals to other services. You can obtain help by contacting:

Nan Baughman,
Domestic Violence Outreach Counselor and Co-Located DV and Child Welfare Advocate for Jefferson County, Refuge House, Inc., (850)342-3518
24 Hour Hotline
(850)681-2111 or
(800)500-1119
nbaughman@refugehouse.com

*Saving Lives*
*Building Hope*
*Ending Violence*