How Can I Help?

h2(blue). *Do* *Do:* Assure confidentiality, let the victim know if you must report *Do:* Be understanding, non-blaming, honest, and supportive *Do:* Listen and validate feelings *Do:* Acknowledge the abuse, show concern *Do:* Ask questions, help victim to identify abusive behaviors *Do:* Remind them of their strengths, compliment them *Do:* Assess for danger *Do:* Express concern *Do:* Offer help, refer to school social worker, guidance, administrator *Do:* Share information about dynamics of abusive relationships *Do:* Support their decisions, be patient, and offer support for as long as it takes *Do:* Provide information: * National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-SAFE * National Teen Dating Abuse Hotline 1-866-331-9474 * Your State Coalition Against Domestic Violence can be found at: http://www.ncadv.org/resources/StateCoalitionList_73.html * "Safety plans":/facts/safetyplan * Legal information *Do:* Remember that the most dangerous time for a victim is right after they leave the relationship; *the victim needs to have a "safety plan":/facts/safetyplan h2(blue). *Don't* *Don’t:* Judge or blame *Don’t:* Talk to victim & abuser together *Don’t:* Pressure *Don’t:* Place conditions on your support *Don’t:* Assume victim wants to leave relationship *Don’t:* Put down the abuser _Adapted from www.opdv.state.ny.us, www.safehome-ks.org,_ _“Domestic Violence: The Facts”, and “Mass. Guidelines for Schools on Addressing Teen Dating Violence”_ "Download _How Can I Help_ Handout":/content/documents/0000/0014/HOW_CAN_I_HELP.doc (Word Document) 2007-06-10T14:38:51-07:00 26 8