If you’ve recently left an abusive relationship, you’ve already taken one of the most important steps of the process — leaving. The abuse you experienced was not your fault, and there is never a reason for abuse. Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.
Learning how to heal and take care of yourself after an abusive relationship can help you navigate what comes next.
Read MoreCLEVELAND — Domestic violence experts say rates remain high three years after a pandemic spike, including in Northeast Ohio.
Melissa Graves, CEO of Journey Center for Safety and Healing, which provides counseling, shelter, and several other supports and services for domestic violence victims, said, "It has stayed there since COVID. It hasn't gone back down."
Read MoreData shared by the Ohio Domestic Violence Network shows there were 27 murder-suicides among the Ohio homicide cases they identified as being connected to domestic violence between July 1, 2021 and June 20, 2022.
ODVN identified a total of 73 domestic violence homicides in Ohio during the same time period, where the perpetrator killed their former or current intimate partner or spouse.
Read MoreCLEVELAND — Authorities have released new information about what happened inside a Brooklyn Centre home last Friday where a man is accused of killing his father, sister and nephew.
“Domestic violence is a very under-reported crime because of the shame and the fear factor,” Grant said.
Grant says survivors may not recognize the signs early on and abusers have a way of manipulating their own behaviors.
Read MoreOHIO — Ohio was the only state that didn't have what’s called a “strangulation law,” according to State Senator Nickie Antonio (D-Lakewood).
But Gov. Mike DeWine's signature on Senate Bill 288 changed that.
“I really believe once this legislation goes into law, we’re going to save lives," Antonio said.
Read More2023 is here… it’s a new year filled with opportunity to take a stand against domestic violence and child abuse. 2023 is another year to create awareness and let those impacted by abuse know that they are not alone and let our community know that everyone deserves relationships build on love, respect, and safety.
Read MoreNo matter what actions we take, big or small- it takes all of us doing our part to support someone impacted by abuse. Those who have experienced or been impacted by domestic violence and child abuse are often isolated by their abusers- making it difficult to ask for help.
Read MoreRight now is a stressful time for many as some are dealing with financial worries and others are isolated at home with their abusers, who may even be heavily monitoring them in person and on social media.
“The holidays tend to be a disruptive time where an abuser may try to exert more power and control through abuse — financial, verbal, physical, emotional, sexual, every kind of, any kind of abuse,” said Melissa Graves, Chief Executive Officer at the Journey Center for Safety and Healing. “Over the holidays, we do tend to see an increase in alcohol consumption for some people. So, all of those things contribute to a stressful environment.”
Senate Bill 90 makes strangulation a felony, as opposed to a misdemeanor, what it is now.
Read MoreMEDINA, Ohio — As Ohio lawmakers enter the lame duck session, ready to push through bills that haven’t yet passed before the general assembly ends at the end of the year, domestic violence advocates and survivors are hopeful that Senate Bill 90 will be one of them.
Senate Bill 90 makes strangulation a felony, as opposed to a misdemeanor, what it is now.
Read MoreOctober marks Domestic Violence Awareness Month. On this week's Mom Squad, Maureen Kyle talks to experts about recognizing signs of abusive relationships.
Read MoreJourney Center believes that everyone deserves a safe, healthy relationship- if they want a relationship. We believe that everyone regardless of gender or gender expression, race, culture, and/or sexual orientation is worthy of a safe, healthy relationship. But, what does that mean? What exactly is a healthy relationship? And how do you know if your relationship is healthy or not?
Read MoreCLEVELAND — New legislation is being proposed in Cleveland to assist victims of domestic violence in the city's workforce.
“Among the thousands of city employees there are people going through struggles, there are people who need help,” said councilman Charles Slife.
“It’s because of injury, because of an inability to focus, because of needing to take time away from work, that's incredibly disruptive and destabilizing for the family,” said Melissa Graves with the Journey Center for Safety and Healing.
Read MoreWhen you first meet someone and start a relationship being “swept of your feet” can feel fun and exciting; having your partner shower you with love, affection, and affirmation feels good. However, abuse and love bombing, is not fun and are signs that you may be in an unhealthy or abusive relationship.
Read MoreMay is Supervised Visitation Awareness Month and today, May 14, is Supervised Visitation Awareness Day- a day and month dedicated to raise awareness about the need and impact of supervised visitation.
Journey Center wants to recognize the important work our Safe & Sound Supervised Visitation Center does to support children and families.
Read More“Gaslighting” is a term that comes from the 1938 stage play Gas Light that was made into a popular movie in 1944, starring Ingrid Bergman and Charles Boyd; in the play and the film, the husband manipulates his adoring and trusting wife into believing she can no longer trust her own perceptions of reality… he “gaslights” her.
Read MoreMelissa Graves with the Journey Center says not only are they seeing more domestic violence cases but more extreme abuse.
“Here in the state of Ohio in 2021, there were actually 131 deaths attributed to domestic violence homicide, that was a 20% increase over the year before,” Graves said.
Read MoreThe World Health Organization defines self-care as: “the ability of individuals, families, and communities to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health, and to cope with illness and disability with or without the support of a healthcare provider.” According to this definition, self-care includes everything related to staying physically healthy — including hygiene, nutrition, and seeking medical care when needed. It’s all the steps an individual can take to manage stressors in their life and take care of their own health and well-being.
Read MoreAll types of violence within an intimate relationship are unacceptable, whether that includes verbal abuse, coercive control, physical violence, or other types of abuse. But what we have learned over the years in the field of intimate partner violence, is that some abusive relationships are more at risk for serious harm, including lethal or near-lethal violence.
Read MoreCLEVELAND — Domestic violence is cancer that invades communities across the nation, but the Journey Center for Safety and Healing is helping survivors of all communities.
Alicia Carrizo is one of those survivors.
“He put a knife on my throat and he said he's going leave me dead, in front of my girls,” said Carrizo.
Read MoreBROOK PARK, Ohio — Sarah Carter will tell you herself that her kids are the key to her heart.
“My children saved me, my children are literally my world,” said Carter. “The thought of losing one of them would bring me to tears.”
Sadly, that thought has become a tragic reality for Carter just over two weeks ago.
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