Domestic Violence
Domestic violence and emotional abuse are behaviors used by on person in a relationship to control the other. Partners may be married or not married; heterosexual, gay or lesbian; living together, separated or dating.
Violence can be criminal and includes physical assault (hitting, pushing, shoving, etc.), sexual abuse (unwanted or forced sexual activity) and stalking. Although emotional, psychological and financial abuse are not criminal behaviors, they are forms of abuse and can lead to criminal violence.
State Resources
- Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance: A recognized leader in Virginia’s Response to sexual and domestic violence and a coalition of people and agencies devoted to ending sexual and domestic violence. To learn more, click here: www.vsdvalliance.org.
- Military Sexual Trauma
Free counseling and treatment offered at the Federal Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for mental and physical health conditions related to military sexual trauma (MST). Veterans do not need to have a VA disability rating, have reported MST, or have other documentation of the experience to get this care.
VVFS can also provide peer and family support and linkages to VA and community-based trauma treatment and Benefits staff can assist with filing MST claims. We are here to help.
- Virginia Department of Social Services – www.dss.virginia.gov.
National Resources
- National Center for Domestic and Sexual Violence – www.ncdsv.org
- Domestic Violence General Information – www.domesticviolence.org
- Family Violence and Sexual Assault Hotline – 1-800-838-8238 (Toll Free)
- Non Profit Resource Guide – www.helpguide.org
