BREAK THE SILENCE

Break the Silence, Stop the Violence
'Black women are abused at a rate 35 percent higher than that of White women.
By: Robin D. Stone
Essence
If you are being abused or you have a loved one who is being abused, you should read this.
1. Divorced and separated people experienced violence at three times the rat of never married people.
2. Boys who witness domestic violence are twice as likely to abuse their own partners and children when they become adults.
3. 35 %  of female victims said they did not report the abuse to police because it was a private matter.
4. Battered Black women who reported that they could rely on others for emotional and practical support were less likely to be abused again.
5. Half of the homeless women and children in the U. S. are fleeing domestic violence.
6. 13 % of teens say they are text messaged 10 to 30 times an hour by a partner asking what they're doing.
- How To Talk To Our Teens And Girls About Dating Abuse And Violence.....................
The very first thing that any mother or caring adult in a girl's life can do is to let her know it is never ever acceptable for someone to abuse you physically, emotionally, mentally, says Joyce Roche,  President and CEO of Girls Incorporated, an organization dedicated to empowering girls.
Girls need to know that if a partner hits, cuts, chokes, intimidates or belittle you, or tries to control when and where you come and go and with whom you talk, he is abusing you, and it needs to stop.
Here are a few ways to help teens understand what a healthy dating relationship looks like.
1. Make sure she knows that nothing she does or says justifies her being abused. 
'There's no such thing as causing this to happen,' Roche says, 'Abuse is never called for in any kind of situation. Abuse is never called for in any kind of situation.
2. Reinforce that she has the right to refuse sex, affection or attention at any time.
3. Advise her to create a safe space from technology's reach. Let her know that constant calls, texts and message are attempts to control her and are not okay.
4. Encourage her to talk. Foster communication beforehand Roche says. Talk about situations like Rihanna and Chris Brown. Use it as an opportunity to hear what she's thinking and to teach.
5. Help her get assistance if she needs it by reaching out to: http://www.loveisrespect.org/  provides such resources as a 24 hour national teen dating abuse help line, call 866-331-9474. Girl Inc. http://www.girlsinc.org/  is a empowerment organization for girls. Check out its girls. Bill of Rights at www.girlsinc.org/about/girl-bill-of-rights  or call 800.374.4475.
Where To Get Help
* National Domestic violence Hotline : 800-799-7233   http://www.ndvh.org/
* National Coalition Against Domestic Violence: http://www.ncadv.org/
* Institute on Domestic Violence in the African American Community @ 877-643-8222  http://www.idvaac.org/
* The Black Church and Domestic Violence Institute: 770-909-0715  http://www.bcdvi.org/
* Men Stopping Violence @ 866-717-9317  http://www.menstoppingviolence.org/ 
* A Call to Men @ 917-922-6738  http://www.acalltomen.org/
* http://www.thatsnotcool.com/ 
-R. D. S.