PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Bruises, black eyes, and broken bones: the obvious signs of domestic abuse.
But, domestic violence advocates say abuse isn’t always physical. It can start years before a relationship gets violent.
Advocate Leslie Jingluski works for the Avalon Center, an organization that offers domestic violence support services in the Williamsburg area.
The Avalon Center uses a tool called the power and control wheel to help survivors understand patterns of domestic abuse, like isolation, intimidation, and coercion.
The tool can also help prevent violence, by showing survivors that their relationship is toxic before the abuse becomes physical.
“We have a lot of survivors who come in and say, ‘well it just got violent,’ but when you show them that power and control wheel and you show them many times the abuse started years before it escalated to violence. So in a prevention mode, and from my standpoint, we’d love to help you navigate the process before it turns violent,” said Jingluski.
The Avalon Center and other local organizations are open to anyone experiencing domestic abuse and want to work with survivors to prevent violence.
Avalon Center in Williamsburg
- Phone: 757-258-5022
- Offers transitional housing, emergency shelter, youth services, legal advice and counseling.
- 24-hour Crisis Hotline: 757-258-5051
- Website: avaloncenter.org
Eastern Shore Coalition Against Domestic Violence
- Hotline number: 757-787-1329
- Offers: emergency shelter, 24-hour crisis hotline, individual counseling, safety planning, children’s services, legal advocacy, accompaniment during hospital visits and court appearances and support groups to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.
- Website: escadv.org
Samaritan House Inc. in Virginia Beach
- Phone: 757-631-0710
- Offers counseling, emergency shelter placement and safety planning.
- 24-hour Crisis Hotline 757-430-2120
H.E.R. Shelter in Portsmouth
- Phone: 757-485-1445
- Offers emergency services, court assistance, shelter, employment and housing assistance.
- 24-Hour Crisis Hotline: 757-485-3384
- Website: hershelter.com
The Genieve Shelter in Suffolk
- Phone: 757-925-4365
- Offers emergency shelter and crisis services.
- Crisis Hotline 757-705-2025 or 757-353-1439
- Contáctanos para ayuda inmediata 1-800-969-4673
- Website: thegenieveshelter.org
Transitions Family Violence Services in Hampton
- Phone: 757-722-2261
- Offers emergency shelter, crisis services, court advocacy, and counseling.
- 24-hour Crisis Hotline 757-723-7774
- Website: transitionsfvs.org
YWCA South Hampton Roads in Norfolk
- Phone: 757-625-4248
- Offers emergency shelter and crisis services.
- 24-hour Crisis Hotline 757-251-0144
- Website: ywca-shr.org
National Human Trafficking Task Force Hotline: 1-888-3737-888.
Hampton Roads Human Trafficking Task Force: 757-430-2120
Blue Campaign to bring an end to Human Trafficking
Prevent Child Abuse America – Coronavirus Resources & Tips for Parents, Children & Others.
Child abuse and neglect are serious problems that can have lasting harmful effects on its victims. For more information on preventing child abuse and neglect check out resources from the CDC, or call The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 for help.
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