Abuse and Abandonment – Resources (links)

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Domestic violence involves either harm or the fear of harm. It is not just a matter of injury; the terror, too, can be debilitating, when ongoing, and can result in post-traumatic stress. A helpful list of warning signs to identify a potential victim of abuse, as well as spot abuse tactics, is available at helpguide.org. The following links are resources to help the victims of domestic violence and elder abuse (whether male or female).

USA

• National Domestic Violence Hotline ndvh.org / CRISIS LINE 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE)
• Oakland, CA A Safe Place – www.asafeplacedvs.org / CRISIS LINE 510-536-7233 (SAFE)
• Chicago, IL Sarah’s Circle – helping women rebuild their lives, serving women who are homeless or at risk

NON-USA

• AUSTRALIA: National Domestic Violence Hotline 1800 200 526
• CANADA  National Domestic Violence HotlineCRISIS LINE 1-800-363-9010
• UK Women’s Aid CRISIS LINE 0808 2000 247.

FOR MEN AND WOMEN

• USA Domestic Abuse Helpline for Men & Women / CRISIS LINE  1-888-743-5754 (7HELPLINE)
• UK ManKind Initiative / CRISIS LINE 01823 334244
• AUSTRALIA One in Three Campaign

ELDER ABUSE

Elder abuse includes both knowing or unintentional neglect of an elder by a caregiver or another person. According to the Administration on Aging, “Each year hundreds of thousands of older persons are abused, neglected, and exploited.”

• The National Center on Elder Abuse is a government website that includes help locator, reporting tools and other resources.

STREET CHILDREN

The street isn’t the ideal place to grow up, and children often end up there after having experienced abuse. According to the statistics at ChildHelp.org, over three million reports are made of child abuse annually in the United States alone. Many cases go unreported. Children who survive abuse and do not get the help they need to overcome their past are more at risk for unprotected sex, criminal behavior, abusive behavior towards their own children. While not all runaways and throwaways have experienced abuse,  many have, says Dr. Lois Lee, founder of Children of the Night.

• Children of the Night – Los Angeles, CA – rescuing children otherwise abandoned to the nightmare of child prostitution