What Can You Do To Help?

 

Individuals can help ACCESS with:

• Referrals: Encourage victims experiencing abuse to call ACCESS-York, Inc.
  
• Speakers: ACCESS-York, Inc Speakers Bureau welcomes the opportunity to address your group about domestic violence.
  
• Donations: Monetary contributions are gratefully accepted. When considering in-kind donations, please call the shelter to determine specific needs. As a group you can also plan a fundraising project for ACCESS.
  
• Attitudes: Be aware of how you feel about the problem of domestic violence. Do not blame the victim and do not accept violence in relationships. Everyone must be aware that domestic violence is a crime.
  
• Volunteers: Volunteers assist in providing services to victims of domestic violence and their families in every aspect of our operations. Volunteers are a very important part of ACCESS's work. Becoming a volunteer enables someone to work as part of a team to eliminate domestic violence in York County.

 

What Can We Do About Domestic Violence?

1. Know your attitude about domestic violence. Do you feel domestic violence is a private matter or do you accept that it is a crime?
   
2. Lend your support. Listen and believe someone if they confide in you that they are being abused. Telling you may be their first step in finding safety. Find out immediately if he/she is safe.
   
3. Do not blame the victim. Let him/her know that they are not alone. Emphasize that no one deserves to be beaten.
   
4. Be informed. Learn about domestic violence and the options and resources available to victims.

Encourage the victim to:

• Call police - dial 911
• Leave the scene immediately
  
• Seek medical attention
  
• Call ACCESS at 717-846-5400 or 1-800-262-8444, Still Waters at 717-637-2235 or Hanover Safe Home at 717-632-0007
  
• Consider legal options of filing criminal charges or Protection from Abuse Order
  
• Develop a safety plan
• Talk with your children and identify a safe place for them
• Arrange a signal with a neighbor
  
• Tell someone you trust about the abuse
• Establish a safe place for important papers, spare keys, and money

5. Don't be afraid to ask if someone is being abused. (On a professional or personal basis).
   
6. Volunteer your time at a domestic violence program.
   
7. Financially support programs working to end violence.
   
8. Hold the batterer accountable. Do not blame the victim or make excuses for the batterer's behavior. Refer the batterer to ADVANCE, a batterer's intervention program 717-852-9706.
   
9. Participate in special domestic violence awareness events. (E.g. purple ribbon campaign.)
   
10. Support legislation that protects the safety of victims. Let your legislators know how you feel.
    
11. Become a positive role model for nonviolence. Set the example. Encourage respect for self and others.
    
12. Teach your children that violence is never acceptable in a relationship and that we must respect each other. Provide all of our children with the tools needed to negotiate and to handle conflict without violence.
    
13. Monitor what your children watch on TV. Does the program reward aggressive behavior? Does the program promote equality in relationships? Talk to your children about what they watch and point out the good and bad of the programs.
    
14. Don't be afraid to speak up when someone minimizes or takes lightly the problem of domestic violence.
    
15. Schedule speakers who speak about domestic violence at groups you belong to.
    
16. Display resource information and domestic violence literature at your place of business.
    
17. Don't expect that you must have all the answers. Refer those in need to the appropriate resource. You have provided a wonderful service if you just do that.

 

Domestic violence can be eliminated only if we come together as a community recognizing the seriousness of the problem and being firm in our resolve to be part of the solution.