Escape
By Torrie Bethany for the National Domestic Violence Hotline
Note from NRCDV: We are pleased to introduce the Heal, Hold & Center Guest Blog Series for Domestic Violence Awareness Month 2024. This post, written by Torrie Bethany from the National Domestic Violence Hotline, is the first of four weekly posts featuring guest authors from the Domestic Violence Awareness Project Advisory Group. In it, Torrie explores each of the core concepts from this year’s theme – Heal, Hold & Center – and offers guidance for operationalizing them in our collective work to end and prevent gender-based violence.
During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we come together to support survivors on their journey toward healing by creating spaces where their voices are heard and their experiences are validated. When we incorporate survivors' experiences into our actions - whether through advocacy, education, or community support - we empower survivors to regain their power and cultivate a culture of compassion and understanding. This month and beyond, let us commit to providing ways to heal, hold, and center survivors and those affected by domestic violence. By working together, we can create a positive, healthy, free-from-violence society where every survivor feels valued and supported on their journey toward healing.
These new resources, available from the National Domestic Violence Hotline, offer tangible steps for living into our committement to Heal, Hold & Center survivors.
Heal – Four Ways to Help Survivors or Victims Heal this Domestic Violence Awareness Month
As we come together to raise awareness, it’s crucial to remember that healing is a long and often challenging journey for domestic violence survivors. Whether you’re looking to support a friend, a family member, or your community at large, here are four meaningful ways to help victims of domestic violence heal during this important month and beyond.
Hold – Holding Space: Three Ways to Support Domestic Violence Survivors
The act of holding space for others can be profoundly healing in a chaotic and isolating world. Holding space means being physically, mentally, and emotionally present. This allows others to express themselves without fear of judgment. This act of care can be life-changing for survivors of domestic violence. It is rooted in compassion and understanding, offering a powerful antidote to invisibility and isolation.
Center – Centering Domestic Violence Survivors: A Commitment This Domestic Violence Awareness Month
It's imperative to remember the core mission of our efforts: to support and empower survivors. This requires placing survivors at the center of our work and ensuring their voices, needs, and experiences guide our decisions. In order to stop gender-based violence, let's make sure survivors are at the center of all our efforts, especially those with the greatest needs.
Stay tuned for more in this series!
Future posts include:
- Week 2: Breaking Down Barriers: Healing Trauma in Latin@ Communities by Aida Negrón, Esperanza United
- Week 3: Centering Older Adults by Victoria Ferguson-Young, Victim Services Coordinator at the National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life (NCALL)
- Week 4: Healing: A Key Piece to Preventing Domestic Violence for Future Generations by Ashleigh Klein-Jimenez, PreventConnect
