Hawaii Violence Prevention

You’ve made the right step and left an abusive relationship. This is never an easy thing to do, but it was the right thing. For many women, it takes more than one attempt before they’re able to leave an abusive relationship for good. There’s never any excuse for a man to hit a woman.

Don’t ever let your guard down when you’re walking away from a bad situation. There are multiple safety tips to follow after leaving an abusive relationship.

Immediately change your cell phone and house number.The last thing you need are threatening phone calls. You should also be careful when using wireless internet and putting your information online.

If the abuse was extremely violent, you should think about getting a restraining order against your ex. Getting a restraining order means that if he goes within a certain amount of feet of you, it will be illegal. But keep in mind that a restraining doesn’t always mean he won’t contact you, but if he tries, he could be arrested. Always, always keep a copy of the restraining order in your purse or pocket all the time.

If there is a place where he goes to frequently, try not to go there. If you feel really uncomfortable and worried about breaking into your home, think about moving to a different area. Make sure anyone who has the new address doesn’t give it to him.

Make sure your home is safely secured each night. It’s often recommended to install an alarm system and a camera with lighting outside if needed. This might seem extreme, but this is your safety you’re trying to protect.

Let your neighbors know about the situation and if they ever see your ex showing up to your house have them contact the police immediately.

Many people feel safe going to work. No one ever expects that they can be hard while in the workplace. The sad news is that violence at work is something that occurs in many different ways. Violence at work can be anything from verbal and physical abuse to making threats, assault someone and homicide. It’s required that employers will have to take charge and teach their employees about the issues of violence and how to eliminate the risk of violence through prevention.

It’s never easy being able to predict any possibility of violence. Even if the risk is high, employers can’t really predict if or when it’ll happen. According to reports employers will have to have some sort of violence prevention program where workers can learn about violence and how to lower the risk of violence from happening in the workplace.

More than two million workers in the United States have become victims to violence crimes while at work each and every year. Those working in the law and correctional facilities are going to be surrounded by violence so they’re a higher risk of experiencing it while at work. Even those who work with money, such as tellers, cab drivers and clerks, are going to be at high risk as well. If you work late hours and in a bad area, you too are at risk.

A company should start by creating a policy and use it. Just like schools, there needs to be a no tolerance policy against violence. This is something that should be in the manual you get when you first start working for the company. To have the prevention policy be successful there are certain things that need to be included in it. Employees need to learn how to spot any problems happening at work, being able to spot a situation that could turn bad and how to mediate any coworkers who are in the middle of a conflict.

Many reports state that it’s recommend to have security cameras in the office building, an alarm system and specific policies that employees need to abide by.



Domestic violence happens in homes every day.  It does not discriminate between race, age, gender, or sexual preference. Signs of domestic violence should be easy to spot, right?  Wrong.  Some forms of abuse will leave no outward signs of damage, while causing a great deal of scarring on the inside.  Leaving the abused feeling depressed, alone and helpless.  People are still of a mind to look away and not get involved.  But that only solidifies the thoughts of the abused and empowers the abuser.

Whether you are in an abusive relationship or you know someone who is in an abusive relationship there are some signs that would point to domestic violence.  Are you afraid of your partner?  Avoiding certain topics that you know will set them off in a fit of violence or cause them to yell.  You feel ashamed of how your partner treats you and you avoid family and friends.  Your partner hides money from you and limits your use of a vehicle.  Those are ways that the abuser can control you.  This is not a healthy relationship.

If you know someone who may be in an abusive relationship, unless they have marks on their outer body that is obvious, you may not be aware of the abuse.  Someone who you are used to seeing every day and now suddenly you don’t see them at all, there could be abuse there.  If you notice that your friend looks to their partner before speaking and seems scared, that’s a sign of abuse.

It is the sole purpose of the abuser to gain and keep control over the abused in any way possible.  No tactic is off limits.  Fear, shame, intimidation, and guilt will be used to keep you firmly in the abuser’s clutches.  As the abused it is your responsibility to admit that your relationship is abusive.  No one should have to live in fear and be subjected to taunts and threats.

Violence against children is an issue of public health worldwide. In the United States alone, 1,740 children died from abuse and neglect in 2008 and child protective services victimized 772,000 children, according for the Center for Disease Controls.

Types of Violent Behavior and its Consequences

Abuse of children under the age of 18 can taken on a number of forms and be perpetrated by any adults, such as, a caregiver, a coach, a teacher, or a member of the clergy. In addition to physical violence, abuse can be sexual, emotional or neglect. Emotional abuse is when an adult damages a child emotionally through rejection, name calling, threatening, in addition other verbal and non-verbal communication. Neglect is when a child’s needs aren’t met, such as, housing, food, health care and education.

Children who have experienced these types of behavior have a higher chance of health problems as adults. Chronic disease, depression, obesity, and alcoholism are just a few of the problems the may face.

Factors that Increase Violence Against Children

There are a number of factors that can increase the chance of maltreatment of children although their presence doesn’t always mean that abuse has occurred. Family environment is a good indicator of violence against children. Homes where there is a lot of stress due to drug or alcohol abuse, long-term health problems, financial issues, social isolation, or a history of violence are more likely to harbor the maltreatment of children. A violent community can also allow child abuse to flourish.
Under these conditions, children 4 years old and younger are at the greatest risk for violence leading to serious injury and even death.

Positive Parenting Skills

The role of public health agencies is to prevent violence against children. Parents need support and to be taught positive parenting skills which include communication skills, suitable discipline methods and how to attend to children’s needs both physical and emotional. Programs for the prevention of violence against children also offer parents social support.

Domestic violence has reached epic proportions in the United States with more than 15 million children exposed to violence at home. Over 2,000 women and children are killed and 2,000,000 injured. Because of the recession more and more people are seeking out public resources for help.

To that end, President Barack Obama signed into law legislation considered necessary to prevent child abuse and domestic violence. In order to improve services provided for child abuse victims and support programs provided to families, President Obama signed The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA)on December 20, 2010.

Another piece of legislation, The Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) was also signed into law. The FVPSA provides funds for shelters and services that help women and children. In addition support for violence prevention programs was expanded to include dating violence and children exposed to violence.

In a move to help stop violence worldwide, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee passed the International Violence Against Women Act (I-VAWA) on December 14, 2010. This legislation, supported by Democrats and Republicans alike, aims to create a five-year plan to end violence against women and girls worldwide. John Kerry, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, introduced the bill in February 2010.

I-VAWA has strong support from voters regardless of demographics and political party. According to research by the Family Violence Prevention Fund and Women Thrive Worldwide, more than 80 percent of voters back the legislation.

Under the passage of the I-VAWA, programming to help women and girls receive education and economic opportunities would help stop violence. The program would also provide guidance for men and boys to provide support to victims in addition to other programming for survivors of family violence. This law would also require the United States to respond to gender-based violence occurring in other countries within six months of their outbreak.

Along with domestic violence, documented cases of school and cyber bullying have steadily increased over the years. Violence has become a widespread epidemic that forces its victims to suffer in silence, sometimes for years. The abused are often ashamed to ask for help or discuss the problem with friends or family. Teen violence is a growing problem that has resulted in death for far too many young people, and teenage girls as young as sixteen are in violent relationships with ongoing verbal and physical abuse from their partner. While it is not reported as often, men are also abused by their mates.

Learning to identify violent behavior is an important step in violence prevention. One of the best ways to detect violent behavior is by noting how the person treats other people. Disrespectful and cruel treatment of others are examples of a person who is capable of violence. Some common characteristics of a violent personality are quick tempers and unreasonable arguments, negative criticism or hurtful comments, and forced or degrading sexual activity. An essential key to personal safety and violence prevention is recognizing the signs of violent conduct. Knowing how to read the signs of abusive behavior is your strongest weapon for violence prevention.

Reports of violence on the road are being reported more frequently as well. To ensure your safety and prevent violence while driving you must remain calm and stay in control. If an altercation occurs call the authorities immediately. Using common courtesy when you are on the road will help you avoid a problem that could escalate and get out of hand. You will be cut off by a rude driver at some point, the best defense for violence prevention when this happens is to just let it go. Chasing or racing other drivers is bad judgement, and you should never risk your safety because an inconsiderate driver with a cell phone cut in front of you with almost no room to spare.

The term public health refers to ongoing science that helps prevent disease and prolong a healthy life. Public health actively monitors each community for threats that may affect the health of the general population. Public health threats to a community are based on the health analysis of the overall population. Some primary concerns of public health are behavioral, environmental, health services, and social. Other important fields include bio-statistics (the study of biology and statistics), epidemiology (studies the patterns of illness and health within the population), and occupational health to protect the health and safety of all employees.

Public health focuses on disease prevention with a careful surveillance of documented cases, while promoting healthful lifestyles and behaviors. With the intervention provided by public health, widespread disease can be prevented. Some simple ways to prevent disease include proper hand washing and required vaccinations. Public health officials suggest that single adults who are sexually active consider the use of condoms to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted disease (STD). Public health was put in place to improve the quality of life by effectively preventing and treating spreadable disease. A healthy population is free of disease, and has proper social and mental well-being.

There are other important concerns for public health. Public health offers safe driving tips for aging drivers, information on family fitness programs for an active lifestyle, and resources that doctors can use to help their patients stop smoking. Alcohol screening and intervention is available for patients who suffer from alcoholism, and there are online resources to provide counseling to victims and family members who are living with domestic violence. Substance abuse is a major public health issue. Substance abuse programs are offered for those who are addicted to habit forming drugs such as prescription medications, medical marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamines. Left unchecked, these public health issues can spread throughout the community.

According to the Georgia Department of Community Health, the main cause of injuries for females between the ages of fifteen and forty four are sexual assault and domestic violence. Thirty percent of women in this age group are victims of domestic violence. These violent crimes against women are very often committed by someone who knows the victim. Reports from the Center for Disease Control list over eighteen thousand homicide victims, and there were more than thirty three thousand suicides in America in 2006. Violent crimes also account for a large number of permanent physical disabilities and emotional trauma.

A key component for health and violence prevention is public education and awareness. Local community centers and online forums offer a wide variety of featured programs with resource information for health and violence prevention. Primary topics for violence prevention include elder and child maltreatment, school and youth violence, intimate partner or sexual violence, suicide, and global violence. Understanding the negative effects that violent crimes have on our communities and tips for personal safety are other essential topics for health and violence prevention. Violence within the community ultimately leads to damaged homes and decreased property values, as well as low productivity, and reduced or terminated social services.

The aftermath of violent crimes can leave a family devastated for long periods of time. It is not uncommon for the emotional distress over a murdered love one to last for years. Survivors of violent crimes are generally disabled, disfigured, or both. Victims of violent attacks are left with permanent damage, family members often feel helpless and must cope with emotional scars. A violent crime destroys the life of a family, erodes our communities with fear, and has a negative impact on society as a whole. Using the resources provided by health and violence prevention centers can help surviors of violent crimes live a productive life.

Youth are not the only individuals affected by violence. Domestic violence is highly prevalent among residents in Hawaii, and the state is increasing its programs available to assist victims of these horrible crimes. The Hawaii State Coalition against Domestic Violence is a strong partner in preventing violence and offering a safe place for victims to come. Their website offers information about identifying signs of violence occurring in the home, and how to get out of this situation. Many people involved in a violent relationship do not think the possibility of leaving is realistic. However, no one should have to be subject to this type of violence. The Coalition is designed to offer a private and secured place for any victims of violence to learn more information and become empowered to the situation which they find themselves in. It also offers anonymous hotlines which individuals can call to get information, resources, and legal help if necessary to get out of the dangerous situation.

In Hawaii, the amount of domestic violence that exists is kept quite secret. Many people who are victims of domestic violence will never come forth, and some won’t even realize that they are in such a situation. If a person grows up around parents who are more violent, either physically or emotionally, then being in a relationship where similar behaviors are found is not uncommon, and these people will often not see it as a problem. However, the resources available include key signs of domestic abuse, and individuals must be aware of what is normal behavior and what constitutes abuse. Friends and family members who suspect abuse can watch for signs of physical wounds that are not easily explained or do not heal, or listen to the way the individual is treated in his or her relationships. Constant criticism or being made to feel like one is not good enough or that something is wrong with them is considered emotional abuse, and can severely damage self esteem.

If someone suspects that they or someone they love is a victim of violence, whether domestic, workplace, or otherwise, they must turn to available resources as soon as possible. The sooner a situation has been recognized as dangerous, the sooner the victim can get help and leave before they are seriously injured or even killed. This can be a very difficult subject to approach, because of the social stigma around abuse, and many victims will defend their attacker without realizing what is going on around them. When approaching the subject, friends and family members must use caution to avoid words and phrases that could offend the possible victim, and not speak ill of the possible abuser. This will often lead the victim to close off and not allow anyone to know of the situation they are in. Instead, use more vague and general questions about life at home that may allow the victim to open up without having to share a lot of details. From there, the victim will often open up when feeling as though they are in a safe and private environment, where they will not be attacked. Often, simply knowing that someone cares enough about the individual to notice their emotional or physical troubles is the first step in giving the victim the courage and strength to leave an abusive and potentially dangerous situation.

Regardless of the situation, no one who is involved in a violent relationship should feel stuck or tied down. There are plenty of resources available to everyone in order to offer protection and a feeling of safety. Hawaii residents can turn to a number of websites, telephone hotlines, and other places in order to obtain security and a private place to discuss and escape from the frightening experiences of being a victim of violence.