Marriage Works! Ohio - Domestic Violence
  
 
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Domestic violence occurs when one person’s pattern of unhealthy behavior is used to impose and gain power and control over another individual in an intimate relationship.

Marriage Works! Ohio provides couples with educational opportunities to enrich their relationships. However, when domestic violence is present, separate, specialized domestic violence education and counseling for the victim and the batterer are recommended.  Marriage Works! Ohio does not provide this specialized support.   If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, contact one of the following resources:
Domestic Violence Resources by County

Butler County

Greene County

Miami County

Montgomery County

Shelby County

  • New Choices: 937-498-7261

Warren County

  • Abuse Rape Crisis Shelter of Warren County: 888-860-4084

Ohio Domestic Violence Network Statewide Hotline: 800-934-9840

National Domestic Violence Nationwide Hotline: 800-799-SAFE

Safety Planning Tips:

  • Do not attempt to stop a violent person from leaving.
  • Press charges for physical violence or threats of violence and follow through with a court order to ensure safety.
  • Criminal courts provide Temporary Protection Orders and Civil Protection Orders are available through the domestic relations courts.
  • If you have protection order, keep a copy with you and let your employer know.
  • It is not safe to remain in a violent relationship.
  • Safe shelter is available to victims of violence 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Facts About Domestic Violence:

  • All domestic violence is harmful.
  • Some types of domestic violence are a crime.
  • Domestic violence is a pattern/cycle.  Without intervention it does not go away.  It escalates in frequency and intensity over time.
  • Battering (violence) is not a result of victim behavior and you cannot change another person.
  • Domestic violence affects children and puts them in danger of being harmed.
  • Alcohol and/or drugs increase unpredictable behavior and severity of abuse.
  • Batterers often make promises in order to get victims to drop charges.  Following through with a court order is the best way to ensure he/she gets treatment and victims receive protection.  Batterers who want to change can stop their violence with appropriate education and treatment.
  • Couple/Marital counseling is not recommended to solve this problem.
  • Separate, specialized domestic violence education and counseling for the victim and the batterer are recommended.  Call one of the resources listed above for more information or assistance.

Effects of Domestic Violence on Children:

Common effects on children who grow up in violent families and witness or experience violence are:

  • Emotional difficulties
  • Aggressive behavior/Hyperactive behavior
  • Submissive & withdrawn behavior
  • School problems
  • Running away
    Substance abuse
  • Poorly formed adult relationships
  • Physical injury or death

Children who grow up in a violent family may believe that violence is a normal and acceptable way of solving problems and handling frustration.  In fact, children are more prone to become abusers and/or are more likely to enter into an abusive relationship when they live with violence. 

What Does Abuse Look Like?

Abuse can happen to anyone of any racial background or economic status.  If you or anyone you know is experiencing any of these, please contact one of the resources listed above.

  • Verbal Abuse: yelling and/or name calling, threatening, put-downs, etc...
  • Mental Abuse: manipulating, intimidating, ignoring, playing “mind games," etc…
  • Emotional Abuse: instilling fear, criticizing, blaming, and creating feelings of worthlessness, etc…
  • Monitoring: (behaviors intended to check-up on and control another person): checking mileage on the car, screening calls, interrogating, demanding, ordering, etc...
  • Financial Abuse: Controlling money, not allowing victim access to money…
  • Destruction of Property: throwing things, tearing or cutting up belongings, putting a fist through the wall, kicking down the door, etc...
  • Abuse of Pet: hurting/killing a pet, etc…
  • Spiritual Abuse: misuse of religious beliefs to condemn or not allowing another person to practice their own religion, etc…
  • Sexual Abuse (generally the last form of violence anyone wants to discuss): unwanted touching, kissing, or sex, etc...
  • Physical Abuse: any grabbing, pushing, shoving, restraining, slapping, kicking, etc...

A Healthy Relationship is for you.

A healthy relationship is one where both persons have mutual respect for the value of each other and are willing to work together for the good of the relationship. Healthy relationships are characterized by:

  • Good Communication:  Respectful speaking and listening by and between partners
  • Mental Support: Safe atmosphere to share ideas and grow together
  • Emotional Support: Safe atmosphere to share emotions and trying to meet the shared needs 
  • Trust: Mutual belief in the commitment to one another that the understanding that both partners agree to treat each other kindly
  • Money Partnership: Money agreement created by both partners allowing both to have money 
  • Respectful Treatment of Property: Items belonging to either are treated respectfully and an agreement that people are not owned
  • Respectful Treatment of Animals: Pets are taught and cared for as a responsibility
  • Religious Understanding: Support and respect for partner to practice as they believe
  • Mutual Intimacy: Emotional closeness and caring creating security in the closeness
  • Mutual Commitment to Healthy Touch: Trust and respect for and from partners about body space and touching
 
   
Funding for this project was provided by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Grant:  90FE0035.  Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families. Participation in all Marriage Works! Ohio programs is voluntary.

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