By Brandy Rea Sensitive subjects like domestic violence and child abuse can be difficult to discuss, and we often avoid these conversations due to fear or discomfort. However, the significance of these issues, along with their prevalence in children’s lives, requires us to confront this discomfort and fear. We must unite to educate ourselves on […]
By Amber Marentette Leaving an abusive relationship is one of the most challenging and dangerous times for a victim of domestic violence. However, many resources and services are available to help support victims through this process. As the domestic violence coordinator in Gulfport, I’ve observed that one of the biggest obstacles a victim faces is […]
By Melissa Galatas According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in four women and one in seven men will experience some form of severe physical abuse by an intimate partner in their lifetime. Since intimate-partner violence is so common, chances are that everyone reading this knows, has known or will know someone […]
By Charlotte Arrowsmith No one enters a relationship with the intention of leaving it. We choose partners whose companionship we enjoy and with whom we want to share our joys and challenges. It is a human desire to have a partner who makes us feel loved and brings meaning and fulfillment to our lives. But […]
By Sarah Jones When I started work as an advocate at the Crisis Center in Manhattan, Kansas, I rationalized that while I had never experienced domestic violence, I knew what it was and still could make a difference. I look back at that version of myself and can only smile. I am (thankfully) a child […]
By Jamie Allen When Sarah was in elementary school, her teachers described her as smart, kind and energetic. At the start of this school year, she made good grades and had several best friends. However, as the school year progressed, Sarah’s behavior subtly changed. She started being absent a lot. While at school, she was […]
When my journey with the Gulf Coast Center for Nonviolence started in October 2015, I was a single parent in an abusive marriage, which causing me physical harm to the point that I could not take it anymore and called 911. The officers from that call referred me to Adrienne’s House, Gulf Coast Center for […]
