The Impact of Domestic Violence
As with most forms of trauma, the impacts of domestic violence frequently far outlast the abuse itself. What's more, domestic violence survivors aren't the only ones affected. The repercussions of abuse are often far-reaching, and can also impact children, family,...
Stigma and Domestic Violence
In spite of the shocking prevalence of domestic violence (around 1 in 4 women will experience violence at the hands of a partner), according to the Crime Report, nearly half (44%) of domestic violence cases go unreported. The reasons for this are complex, but one of...
Why Domestic Violence is a Public Health Issue
Most people probably don't think of domestic violence as being a public health issue. If anything, we're probably more likely to think of domestic violence as a private matter—something that happens behind closed doors, as a result of individual factors, and which...
What Does Emotional Abuse Look Like?
One of the common misconceptions about abuse is that it always involves physical violence. In fact, abuse can take multiple different forms, including emotional abuse. What Is Emotional Abuse? The definition of emotional abuse includes any behavior intended to...
How to Help Survivors of Domestic Violence
Domestic violence is a public health crisis, one that everyone can play a part in stopping. And yet, even if you know how to recognize the signs of domestic violence, knowing how to react and how to help survivors of domestic violence can still be confusing. Here,...
How to Spot Abuse
Anyone can be affected by abuse, and for some domestic violence survivors, all it takes is one person with a discerning eye to start the process of getting help. Knowing how to recognize domestic violence can make a huge difference in your ability to intervene with a...
Risk Factors for Domestic Violence
Although domestic violence is a complex phenomenon, in many cases, abusers and abusive relationships display the same red flags. Knowing the risk factors and causes of domestic violence is an important aspect of being able to prevent or intervene in abuse, either for...
Chicago Author Teams Up with CAWC to Raise Awareness About DV
In honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Lana Orndorff, a fellow advocate and local author is donating $1 of each purchase of her second novel, The Narrative of Mary James, throughout the month of October to CAWC! The Narrative of Mary James is told through the...
Domestic Violence and the Impact on Children
Domestic violence is a traumatic experience for anyone who experiences or witnesses it, and that particularly includes children. According to the Child Witness to Violence Project, at least a third of children in the US have witnessed violence between their...
Domestic Violence and the COVID-19 Pandemic
The early days of the COVID-19 pandemic were a time of stress and uncertainty for everyone. And for many people, it wasn't just our physical health and safety that was at risk—across the world, people experienced disruptions and setbacks to their jobs, finances,...
The Economic Impact of Domestic Violence
Most of us are accustomed to thinking of domestic violence in terms of its impact on the survivor's life, or perhaps their immediate circle of family and friends. It's hard to imagine how an instance of domestic violence might impact, say, a stranger in the next town...
DV In TV
Domestic Violence In TelevisionGossip Girl Gossip Girl (2007-2012) is a teen drama show about a gossip rag that mischievously documents the happenings amongst a high-profile group of young Manhattan socialites. The show is notoriously known for the volatile...
The Voices of CAWC: Benjamin’s Story
Benjamin*, 27, initially connected with CAWC through our Multi Disciplinary Teams program. A physical and verbal altercation between Benjamin and his (now) ex-boyfriend was overheard by a neighbor, who called the police. CPD’s 14th district police responded, and upon...
The Voices of CAWC: Marilyn’s Story
Marilyn*,32 years old, arrived at Greenhouse shortly after the holidays with her 2 sons: William 13 years old, and Noah 8 years old. Marilyn was fleeing from her husband who she had been with since she was 15 years old. Marilyn and her children had been living in a...
Did You Know Your Employer Could be Able to Double (or Triple) Your Gift to CAWC?
CAWC has recently introduced a corporate gift match search functionality to help our donors navigate what can often be a complicated process of getting their donation matched by their organization. Corporate giving programs allow companies of all sizes to make...
Normalizing Toxic Behaviors Causes More Harm
By Ashley Ruiz, MSW, CDVP HPOP Coordinator/Family Trauma Therapist Normalizing Toxic Behaviors Causes More Harm What is a behavior or romantic gesture that has been normalized but is clearly very unhealthy and toxic? Maybe someone calling or checking on...
How to provide support to someone who may be in a domestic violence relationship
By Marielena Leon,HCIP Northwestern Counselor and Advocate Survivors of DV face a lot of barriers, one of which is the lack of support or pressured support. Being a support system for someone who is in an abusive relationship can be a bit confusing and at times...
10 Things You Will Want to Share About CAWC’s Hospital Crisis Intervention Project
By Colleen Montgomery, LCSW, CCTP Outreach Services Coordinator CAWC’s Hospital Crisis Intervention Project (HCIP) provides supports and services to domestic violence survivors when they are seeking medical intervention by maintaining onsite Counselor Advocates to...