Preventing Family Violence

• "Domestic violence" is the term used to describe spousal or partner abuse.
• "Child abuse" is the term used to describe the mistreatment or abuse, inflicted by an adult, that endangers a child's physical or emotional health.
• "Elder Abuse" is the term used to describe abuse, neglect, and/or exploitation and can include physical, sexual, and/or emotional abuse as well as abandonment.

What behaviors classify abuse?

Physical abuse may include hitting, slapping, kicking, beating, torturing with other objects, burning, pushing, and spanking in a manner that causes bruises or lasting physical trauma.

Sexual abuse may include fondling, molesting, raping, sodimizing, and forcing someone to participate in any sexual activity.

Emotional abuse may include yelling, demeaning and belittling statements, financial control, cursing, and controlling behavior.

Neglect may include lack of supervision and failure to provide for adequate nutrition, medical care, housing, schooling, and clothing.

Factors Commonly Associated With Abuse

• Increased stressors including marital and financial problems
• Past history of family abuse
• Limited social interactions
• Personality traits that include controlling behaviors, extreme highs and lows, and anger problems
• Alcohol and/or drug abuse

Finding Help

• If you or a family member are in danger, leave immediately and contact the local abuse shelter
• Obtain marital and family counseling
• Attend abuse education and stress management support groups
• Attend anger management groups
• Make a commitment to improve the situation- everyone involved needs to get help

Helpful Numbers

• Call 911 if you or someone else is in immediate danger
• The National Domestic Violence Hotline
  1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
• The National Child Abuse Hotline
  1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453)
• The National Elder Abuse Hotline
  1-800-879-6682