Intervention & Prevention Content Topic Results

Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Other Tax Credits

ckeene — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 16:46:41 +0000

Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Other Tax Credits ckeene Fri, 08/12/2016 - 12:46

Published

January 16, 2025

Author(s)

Shaina Goodman

Marium Durrani

Breckan Erdman Winters

Casey Keene

In 1975, Congress authorized a federal tax credit program called the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). It was conceived as an incentive to "make work pay" by giving low-income workers a refund for a percentage of their earnings. Since its inception, the EITC has been heralded as one of the most successful anti-poverty strategies in the United States, and numerous other tax credit programs have followed. Today there are tax credit programs for low-income workers with children and other dependents and for individuals seeking higher education, as well as outreach efforts designed specifically for underserved populations.

This collection highlights key resources for the EITC, the Child Tax Credit, Health Coverage Tax Credits, and others. It includes general information and fact sheets, reports and research, information about how tax credits affect eligibility for other federal benefits, resources to access state specific statistics and contact information, and resources specific to four underserved populations (domestic violence survivors, Native Americans, workers who are immigrants, and workers with disabilities). It also provides information on free tax preparation services across the country and ways to avoid predatory lending and tax services. Please contact the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence with comments, questions, or suggestions for new additions to this collection.

This Special Collection draws heavily from the work of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, one of the nation's premier policy organizations working at the federal and state levels on fiscal policy and public programs that affect low- and moderate-income families and individuals.

Special thanks to Anna Melbin, Founder of Catalyst Consulting and Training, for originally developing this collection in partnership with the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRCDV) in 2012, and to former NRCDV staff Shaina Goodman and Marium Durrani for their contributions. This collection is updated annually with new information and resources.

Trauma-Informed Environments for Young People

ckeene — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 15:41:48 +0000

Trauma-Informed Environments for Young People ckeene Wed, 10/23/2024 - 11:41

Published

November 14, 2024

New Resources Added

October 23, 2024

Author(s)

Kara Cook

Casey Keene

When we operate from the understanding that trauma is a common human experience, everyone benefits. Assuming the presence of trauma means we work from a place of compassion that honors the many ways it shapes us and our interactions with one another. It also opens the door for acknowledging our strengths in navigating these challenges and embracing the hope and possibility in our inherent resilience.

This Special Collection explores how to build and sustain trauma-informed, asset-based environments for children and youth with an emphasis on promoting the Social Determinants of Health (SDoH), or the conditions in the places where children and youth are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and grow. Being trauma-informed is about nurturing welcoming, safe, and healthy environments where youth are. That’s why this collection organizes resources and tools with those environments in mind: at home, in the community, in healthcare, at school, in our systems designed to help, and in the workplace.

Access the accompanying Fact Sheet on Trauma-Informed Environments for Young People (November 2024) from the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence.

Being a Man: Preventing Domestic and Sexual Violence

ckeene — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 00:13:38 +0000

Being a Man: Preventing Domestic and Sexual Violence ckeene Tue, 08/09/2016 - 20:13

Published

January 19, 2024

Author(s)

Justin Carter

What does it really mean to “be a man”? No need to do any research or enroll in any philosophy courses because I’ll tell you what it means. It means to be like Batman. Of course, you’re thinking, what does this fictional character have to do with masculinity? Well, let’s think about it. Batman never shows emotion except anger towards criminals and cold shoulders towards Robin. Batman is highly intelligent and strong, even without superpowers. Then, when he’s not being the Caped Crusader, he’s Bruce Wayne. A billionaire genius who, to the public, seems to only care about money and how many women he can have on his arm while he buys the next hotel. Whether he’s being Batman or Bruce Wayne, he is powerful.

Let’s be honest, a lot of us men want to be Batman. A lot of us would even settle for being just Bruce Wayne. But have you ever thought about why? Well, it’s simple really – in today’s society we are conditioned to be like Batman, who society tells us is the epitome of what it means to be a man. Be strong, not just physically but mentally. Don’t show any emotion, because emotion symbolizes weakness (unless it’s pride or anger, of course). Take care of yourself and your family because that’s the only thing that matters. Make sure you have lots of women, because somehow that makes you more attractive? Also, make sure you have money because money is an automatic win over everything. You don’t necessarily have to have all these things at once, but just one thing that makes you seem more “manly.” Or should I say, less like a woman…

It makes sense, right? If being a man means not showing emotion, and to show emotions means to be weak, then who are we calling weak? We as men collectively cut off our emotions to distance ourselves from the experiences of women. As men, we collectively put ourselves into a box. In this box, we have certain rules for what it means to be a man. Do not cry or openly show emotion, don’t express weakness or fear, be athletic, tough, make decisions on your own, demonstrate power and control (especially over women), and view women as property or objects. So much for being Batman huh? But that’s just it. We aren’t Batman. We are David, Mark, Leo, Donte, and Justin. We are more than one-dimensional characters in a comic book. However, this “man box” is trapping us to be more one-dimensional and collectively, we as men are allowing this to happen. Instead of a box, I think this is more of a cage.

Being in a box means being trapped, with no way out. Not being able to see the light as men. However, that’s simply not true. We see what it could be like to be outside of the cages through the holes. We see what other men are doing to break free from the cage and live healthy, respectable lives. However, as soon as we try to reach our fingers out of this cage, society (our “master”) slams our hands and fingers back inside. Always reminding us that being outside of this cage means you aren’t a man, you’re more like a woman or gay. These notions of masculinity are extremely harmful to not just ourselves but the women and girls in our lives as well. We as men are collectively taught to see women as having less value and to view them as property and the objects of men. This is the equation that equals violence against women. Overwhelmingly it is men who hurt women. However, through work with men and boys, we can end violence against women. Men are also confined by this violence. Taking into account that 80% of victims know the person who raped them, it becomes virtually impossible for women to distinguish “safe guys” from men who are dangerous and therefore a “potential rapist” or abuser. The result is a society with its guard up. Relationships with men are approached with fear and mistrust. Intimacy is limited by the constant threat of violence.

Men are not born violent. Some become violent as a result of destructive beliefs and expectations about what it means to be a man. We must recognize the ways that dominant stories of masculinities have infiltrated our lives. In order to do so, we must discover and acknowledge that our understanding of masculinity is often manipulated directly and deliberately by corporations that value profit over people. We as men can choose to not perpetrate acts of violence and challenge those men who do. We can also challenge ideals and attitudes that support violence against women. How? Well, my friends, you have come to the right place! As you read through this collection, you will understand the why and the how of engaging men in efforts to end domestic and sexual violence.

Faith, Spirituality, Religion & Domestic Violence

ckeene — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 18:50:17 +0000

Faith, Spirituality, Religion & Domestic Violence ckeene Thu, 08/11/2016 - 14:50

Published

June 01, 2023

Author(s)

Patty Branco

“Survivors of abuse deserve the best of what both faith leaders and advocates bring to the table.” – Rev. Dr. Anne Marie Hunter

Faith and spirituality can be important to grieving and healing for domestic violence survivors. Both faith leaders* and domestic violence advocates can play an integral role in supporting these processes. Each holds unique and valuable perspectives, resources, and backgrounds. Both are well positioned to impact positive outcomes for individuals, families, and communities. Both can shift ideologies that perpetuate harm to those that foster well-being. They can dismantle systemic oppression to allow communities to thrive. Together, faith leaders and domestic violence advocates can create meaningful change. They can support survivors who wish to utilize healing resources that are rooted in their faith and spirituality.

This collection embraces the understanding that religion is a layer of one’s cultural identity. Culturally affirming victim-defined advocacy must center spirituality for survivors. Acknowledging, respecting, and understanding religion is critical to creating a holistic response. Advocates and faith leaders can embrace this unique resource for survival, healing, and resilience.

This collection includes resources for both domestic violence advocates and faith leaders. It fosters collaboration and promotes the development of meaningful partnerships. In this collection, readers will find helpful information and key resources that address:

the historical context and connections between domestic violence and religion,
culturally affirming, faith-centered approaches to support healing and accountability, and
the important role of spiritual activism in movement building for social change.

* The term faith leader (used here synonymously with "religious leader") is inclusive of all faith communities (federally recognized religious groups and not). Faith leaders are not only necessarily officially ordained.

Centering the Needs of Male-Identified Survivors of Domestic Violence

berdman — Fri, 22 Jan 2021 15:31:08 +0000

Centering the Needs of Male-Identified Survivors of Domestic Violence berdman Fri, 01/22/2021 - 10:31

Published

October 01, 2021

Author(s)

Ivonne Ortiz

“An officer said to me, ‘She must be a really big woman, and stronger than you.’ Society doesn't believe men like me that go through things like these.” – Male Survivor

Developing services that meet the needs of all survivors of domestic violence (DV) requires that we center safety and all the voices of those that experience harm. Historically, domestic violence programs were born from the women’s liberation movement of the 1970’s to address the needs of female survivors. Overtime, it has come to be understood that anyone can be a victim of domestic violence regardless of race, ethnicity, class, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Currently, most domestic violence programs primarily provide services to women and children, who continue to represent the majority of victims seeking these services. At the same time, these programs struggle with the idea of integrating services to address male-identified victims across the lifespan. Both research and practice underscore the need to improve services to this group.

While data shows that domestic violence disproportionately affects girls and women, boys, gay, bisexual, transmasculine and heterosexual men are also victims. In 2015, NRCDV conducted a series of listening sessions with male survivors; out of these conversations, we noted that one of the most significant barriers to accessing services was shame and stigma, including the pressure they felt as men to be strong and “keep everything together.” Male victims often fear that their complaints are not credible or that they will be blamed for the abuse if they tell anyone. Some re-counted that receiving non-residential services from a domestic violence (DV) program was not an option because of their gender.

“I felt judged and not believed. You know men should be able to take care of their woman type of mentality.” – Male Survivor

We have a long way to go to deepen our understanding of the specific challenges male victims continue to face. Society needs a broader concept of “male identity” to ensure accessibility to services and the promising practices developed by agencies serving them. Given this absence of information, it is especially critical to amplify the voices of male victims from historically marginalized communities, as well as the experiences and best practices of the advocates who work with them.

“It’s hard…people don't believe you. I told one doctor my partner was beating me up and he immediately thought that I was gay. Society can’t believe that a woman can abuse a man.” – Male Survivor

About this collection:

This collection offers available resources for domestic violence service providers to enhance responses to male-identified survivors of domestic violence within their current service delivery models and within specialized community-driven programming and services.

NRCDV has compiled resources that may offer helpful guidance for domestic violence programs that need to enhance their response to male-identified victims. See our related TA Guidance document, Serving Male-Identified Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence.

A note about language:

Throughout this collection, we will be using the following terms interchangeably domestic violence (DV), intimate partner abuse (IPA), and intimate partner violence (IPV) to describe physical violence, sexual violence, stalking, or psychological harm by a current or former partner or spouse.

Preventing and Responding to Domestic Violence in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, or Queer (LGBTQ) Communities

ckeene — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 18:42:40 +0000

Preventing and Responding to Domestic Violence in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, or Queer (LGBTQ) Communities ckeene Thu, 08/11/2016 - 14:42

Published

June 01, 2019

Although the U.S. has made exciting progress in recent years, from the passage of marriage equality to shifting culturally-held definitions of sex and gender, people who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, or Queer* (LGBTQ) continue to face widespread violence, harassment, and discrimination. While research is limited, the research that is available indicates that members of LGBTQ communities experience domestic and sexual violence at rates that are equal to or higher than non-LGBTQ people, particularly when they hold additional marginalized identities, such as being a woman of color or an undocumented immigrant.

And while they experience high rates of violence, LGBTQ survivors also often face significant barriers to safety and accessing services, such as historical over-incarceration and harassment by police, unintended outing, discrimination by service providers, and a lack of culturally responsive services that can result in revictimization. Additional layers of oppression often add to these barriers – the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey (USTS) found that “transgender people of color who completed the survey experienced deeper and broader forms of discrimination than white USTS respondents,” and although they experienced higher rates of interpersonal violence, Black respondents reported less comfort reaching out to police, medical professionals, and shelters for help. Additionally, the lack of LGBTQ-inclusive violence prevention efforts and healthy relationship programming in most communities results in low levels of awareness of the prevalence and impact of domestic and sexual violence in LGBTQ communities. This special collection is intended to help domestic violence organizations address these gaps in services for LGBTQ survivors.

The information in this special collection offers an overview of research and resources that are currently available on preventing and responding to domestic violence within LGBTQ communities. Resources provided in this special collection are especially relevant to organizations and individuals who want to increase their capacity to provide culturally responsive intervention services to the LGBTQ survivors of domestic violence and to those who want to work with LGBTQ communities on prevention strategies.

This special collection draws from the work of many leaders around the United States who focus specifically on the issue of domestic violence within LGBTQ communities. We want to specifically highlight the work on a national level that the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP), The Northwest Network, the National LGBTQ Institute on IPV, The Network/La Red, and FORGE have done in partnership with these communities. Additionally, a list of organizations working around the issue of domestic violence in LGBTQ communities is provided at the end of this special collection.

Originally developed by the Minnesota Center Against Violence and Abuse, this collection was updated in 2019 by the National LGBTQ Institute on IPV in partnership with the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence. For more extensive information specific to transgender and non-binary survivors, see our Serving Trans and Non-Binary Survivors of Domestic and Sexual Violence special collection. For access to additional academic and conceptual articles on LGBTQ IPV, please visit the LGBTQ Institute’s online Zotero library.

PLEASE NOTE: With any personal identity the language chosen by the individual to describe their identity is of the utmost importance. Language that one individual uses to describe their sexual or gender identity can be considered offensive to the next. Definitions for these identities are not fixed and are always changing in meaning, both in society and by individuals.

Preventing and Responding to Teen Dating Violence

ckeene — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 18:02:45 +0000

Preventing and Responding to Teen Dating Violence ckeene Wed, 08/10/2016 - 14:02

Published

January 30, 2019

Author(s)

Patty Branco

This special collection emphasizes collaborative and multi-level approaches to the prevention of and response to teen dating violence (TDV). It draws on the work of many organizations and organizes the resources on TDV prevention and responses by different populations. The first section of this special collection provides general information about teen dating violence. The next six sections include TDV information related to: 1) young people, 2) bystanders, 3) parents and caregivers, 4) men and boys, 5) teachers and school-based professionals, 6) health care professionals, 7) pregnancy prevention programs, and 8) domestic violence and sexual violence service providers. The final section presents documents on TDV-related laws and legislation. The special collection concludes with examples of national programs that address TDV and a list of national and statewide organizations and programs.

While most available materials on TDV focus on prevention and response to young people in high schools, it is important to acknowledge that TDV prevention also includes outreach to younger teens in middle schools and older college students, as well as youth who are not represented in our system of education (runaways, homeless youth, etc.). Fortunately, there is a growing number of materials across age groups, which is reflected throughout the collection. This special collection will be updated regularly, and new documents will be added as they become available. We welcome your comments, suggestions, and information about documents for this special collection.

This infographic from One Love draws upon leading national studies to highlight the scope of violence in intimate relationships:

Responding to the Needs of Immigrant Survivors of Domestic Violence

ckeene — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 17:33:29 +0000

Responding to the Needs of Immigrant Survivors of Domestic Violence ckeene Thu, 08/11/2016 - 13:33

Published

October 01, 2018

Author(s)

Patty Branco

Sheetal Rana

The term “immigrant" refers to individuals who come to one country from another country in order to live there permanently or for an extended period of time. Immigrants are very diverse, from varied socio-cultural, economic, and educational backgrounds. They include individuals and families who have lived in the U.S. for a short period of time, as well as those who have lived in the country for many years. They have different histories and biographies, including their experiences in their country of origin, on their journey from their home country, of the immigration process, and of living in the United States. Many immigrants are U.S. citizens or possess different types of legal immigration status, and some may be undocumented. This diversity among immigrant communities also extends to their experiences of domestic violence.

While there are differences in domestic violence experienced by immigrant survivors, there may be commonalities, such as patterns of abuse tied to the survivors’ experiences as an immigrant, as well as challenges and barriers to seeking help. Similarly, domestic violence service providers may face common challenges in offering services to immigrant survivors. These challenges and barriers could be linked to a limited understanding of issues related to the survivors’ immigration status, eligibility for public assistance, different cultural practices, English language proficiency, etc. It is also essential to note the importance of using a strengths-based approach, recognizing the courage, strength, resilience, and perseverance of immigrants who have sought to establish a new life for themselves and their children in the United States. This special collection explores the complex experiences of immigrant survivors and includes resources to support their path to safety and justice. It also includes resources that help domestic violence service providers respond effectively and appropriately to immigrant survivors.

It is important to note here that several documents included in this Special Collection focus on laws and regulations related to maintaining legal immigration status, public assistance, and related matters. These laws and regulations change over time and thus some of the documents included here may be dated or may become dated. For up-to-date resources on laws and regulations, please also consult the expert organizations listed at the end of this collection. This collection will be updated with new resources as they become available, and we welcome your comments and suggestions via VAWnet’s online contact form.

This collection was originally developed in 2009 by Sheetal Rana with the Minnesota Center Against Violence and Abuse, updated by Patty Branco on October 2018, and complements the related collections, Immigrant Women and Sexual Violence and Human Trafficking. Special thanks to Rosie Hidalgo and Heidi Notario for their valuable contributions.

Building Comprehensive Solutions to Domestic Violence

berdman — Fri, 27 Jul 2018 12:34:10 +0000

Building Comprehensive Solutions to Domestic Violence berdman Fri, 07/27/2018 - 08:34

Published

August 01, 2018

Author(s)

Jill Davies

Anne Menard

Shaina Goodman

BCS is a key initiative of the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRCDV) in collaboration with Greater Hartford Legal Aid. The mission of BCS is to promote victim-defined advocacy and responses. We pursue this through analysis, technical assistance, information, and tools that are practical, ready to use and responsive to the complex challenges advocates face.

NRCDV’s mission is to strengthen and transform efforts to end domestic violence. Since 1993, NRCDV has provided a wide range of free, comprehensive, and individualized technical assistance, training, and specialized resource materials and projects designed to enhance current intervention and prevention strategies.

Greater Hartford Legal Aid is a not-for-profit law firm that advocates for equal justice for poor people. Its attorneys protect legal rights and use the law to address the effects and root causes of poverty. Staff works with the community to identify and address current issues. GHLA’s domestic violence advocacy began in 1979. It is recognized as a state and national leader on family violence and violence against women.

Safety & Privacy in a Digital World

ckeene — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 12:42:57 +0000

Safety & Privacy in a Digital World ckeene Fri, 08/12/2016 - 08:42

Published

January 16, 2018

New Resources Added

June 28, 2018

Author(s)

Casey Keene

Breckan Erdman Winters

For many of us, technology plays an integral role in our day-to-day lives. We connect with friends and family on social media, access news and current events from online media sources, and use smart phones' GPS capabilities to figure out how to travel to new places. While rapid advancements in technology provide us with powerful tools to connect, learn, and exchange ideas, they also arm abusers with new ways to inflict harm.

This newly updated special collection explores ways to promote safe internet use, build healthy online communities, and promote social justice online, while addressing some of the ways that abusers misuse technology to commit gender-based violence. The collection features resources that highlight the importance of privacy and promote safe online interactions, paying particular attention to working with children and youth to foster safe online spaces. It also includes resources for survivors who have experienced or are currently experiencing digital abuse, and provides helpful information for service providers.

Technology is ever evolving, at a rate that sometimes feels impossible to grasp. There will always be a “next big thing” which will undoubtedly raise questions about the safety of survivors of abuse. It is our role to ask those questions, to support informed, survivor-centered choices around the use of technology, and to continue to advocate for the rights and needs of those experiencing abuse.

This collection was developed by the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence. Special thanks to the SafetyNet Project of the National Network to End Domestic Violence for their leadership and resource development in this area.