October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Since 1987, when the first Domestic Violence Awarness Month was observed, we have accomplished so much by raising awareness by getting people to understand and acknowledge that domestic violence is a serious problem for our communities. In 2018, it is time to evolve our approach. It is time to…
Too often, the possibility that a powerful figure has committed sexual assault or domestic abuse is considered less important than the position that individual holds and the value they bring to their position. This dynamic has for centuries kept victims isolated and silent, resulting in the punishment of those who do speak out. We offer…
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas introduced the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2018. The Violence Against Women Act first passed with bipartisan support in 1994. Since then, each iteration has included important improvements that expand the safety net for survivors with the range of crimes covered by the law, including domestic abuse, dating…
Are you someone who cares about young people? Maybe you are a parent, coach, teacher, faith leader, or policy maker. Are you a young person yourself? Whoever you are, this Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month tells us why you care about ending teen dating abuse, and why you take action to foster healthy…
The first weeks of 2018 have already brought news of two domestic violence homicides in Maine. On January 10th in Temple, a small town in Franklin County, Thomas Masse allegedly killed his wife, Michelle, then himself. This week, Anthony Leng was arrested and charged with murdering Sokha Khoun on January 7 in the home they…
The Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence (MCEDV) is partnering with New Ventures Maine (NVME) to address economic abuse as a tactic of domestic violence abusers. This year-long collaborative project, funded by the Allstate Foundation Purple Purse Grant, will involve domestic violence advocates from three domestic violence resource centers (DVRCs) across the state working with…
The right to determine what happens to our physical selves has everything to do with our safety and wellbeing. Attacks on bodily autonomy are central to the issue of domestic violence. The behavior of those who commit domestic abuse is rooted in the belief that they have the right to make decisions about every facet…
By: Leslie Tolly It’s Sunday, November 6, 2016, and today, I forgave you. It’s been five years since the last time you physically harmed me. It was time. When I first sat down to write about my experience, I wrote about what happened. I put on paper every heart-wrenching detail. When it was time for…
