This document provides information and guidance on domestic violence and abuse. It defines warning signs of abuse, offers advice on speaking to someone you suspect is being abused, and provides resources for victims seeking help or safety planning. Safety is the top priority, and leaving an abusive situation can be dangerous, so planning and getting support are strongly encouraged. Children who witness abuse can be traumatized, so protecting them is also important. Overall, the document aims to educate about domestic abuse dynamics and empower victims to get assistance.

1. Speak up if you suspect domestic
violence or abuse

2.  Do:  Don’t:
 Ask if something is  Wait for him/her to
wrong come to you
 Express concern  Judge or blame
 Listen and Validate  Pressure him/her
 Offer Help  Place conditions on
your support

3.  Get educated and learn the warning signs, talk to a professional
 Talk to the person in private and let him/her know that you are
concerned.
 Point out some of the things that you observed that make you
worried.
 Tell the person that you are there, whenever he/she are ready to
share.
 Reassure them that whatever is said between the two of you remains
confidential and that you will help in any way.
Remember, abusers are very good at controlling and manipulating
their victims. People who have been emotionally abused or battered
are depressed, drained, scared, ashamed, and confused. They need
help to get out. They’ve often been isolated from family and friends.
By knowing the warning signs and offering support, you can help
them escape an abusive situation and begin healing.

4. Does your partner: Do you:
 Humiliate or yell at you  Feel afraid of you partner much of
 Criticize you or put you down
the time
 Avoid certain topics out of fear of
 Treat you so badly that you’re
angering your partner
embarrassed for you’re friends and
family to see
 Feel that you can’t do anything right
 Wonder if your the one who is crazy
 Ignore or put down your opinions or
accomplishments  Believe that you deserved it
 See you as property or a sex object  Feel emotionally numb or helpless
 Have a bad and unpredictable temper
 Receive frequent, harassing phone
calls from your partner
 Hurt you, or threaten to hurt or kill you  Have frequent injuries, bruises
 Threaten to take your children away or  Frequently miss work , school, or
harm them social occasions
 Threaten to commit suicide if you leave  Dress in clothing designed to hide
 Destroy your belongings bruises or scars
 Force you to have sex  Have low self-esteem even though
 Control where you go or what you do
you used to be confident
 Feel depressed anxious, or suicidal
 Keep you from seeing family and friends
 Limit your access to money, the car, etc.
 Constantly check up on you

5.  Getting out of an abusive or violent relationship
isn’t easy. Maybe you’re still hoping that things
will change. Maybe you’re afraid of what your
partner will do if he discovers you’re trying to
leave. Whatever your reasons, you probably feel
trapped and helpless. But even though leaving an
abusive relationship can be frightening, the risks of
staying are too great. You deserve to live free of
fear. Your children deserve to live free of fear.
You can make that happen by taking steps to
protect yourself and reaching out for help. Don’t
Wait!

6. It is Still Abuse if:
 The Incidents of physical abuse seem minor when compared to those
you have read about, seen on tv, or heard other women talk about. There
isn’t a better or worse form of physical abuse; you can be severely injured
at any time.
 The incidents of physical abuse have only occurred one or two times in
the relationship. Studies indicated that if your spouse/partner has
injured you once, it is likely he/she will continue to physically assault
you.
 The physical assaults stopped when you became passive and gave up
your right to express yourself, to go where you want or see who you want
or to make decisions. It is not a victory if you have to give up your rights
as a person in exchange for not being assaulted.
 There has not been any physical violence. Many victims are emotionally
and verbally abused. Their abusive partners often control them
financially and or sexually, threatening to kidnap or physically harm
victim’s children.

7.  Violent and abusive behavior is the abuser’s choice. Despite what many people believe, domestic violence and abuse is
not due to the abuser’s loss of control over his or her behavior. In fact, abusive behavior and violence is a deliberate
choice made by the abuser in order to control you.
 Abusers use a variety of tactics to manipulate their victims such as dominance, humiliation, isolation, threats,
intimidation, denial and blame.
 Abusers pick and choose whom to abuse. Usually, they save their abuse for the people closest to them, the ones they
claim to love.
 Abusers carefully choose when and where to abuse. They control themselves until no one else is around to see their
abusive behavior. They may act like everything is fine out in public, but lash out instantly as soon as you’re alone.
 Abusers are able to stop their abusive behavior when it benefits them. Most abusers are not out of control. In fact,
they’re able to immediately stop their abusive behavior when it’s to their advantage to do so ( for example, when the
police show up or their boss calls.)
 Violent abusers usually direct their blows where they won’t show. Rather than acting out in a mindless rage, many
physically violent abusers carefully aim their kicks and punches where the bruises and marks won’t show.
 Abusers usually lash out with aggressive, belittling behavior. The abuse is a power play designed to show you who is
boss.
 After abusing you, your abuser usually shows guilt, but not over what they have done. They are more worried about the
possibility of being caught and facing consequences.
 Abusers usually rationalize what they have done. The abuser may come up with a string of excuses or blame you for the
abusive behavior. Anything to avoid taking responsibility.
 Abusers do everything they can to regain control and keep the victim in the relationship. He may act as if nothing has
happened, or he may turn on the charm. This peaceful honeymoon phase may give the victim hope that the abuser has
really changed this time.
 Abuser begins to fantasize about abusing you again. Abuser spends a lot of time thinking about what you’ve done
wrong and how he’ll make you pay. Then he makes a plan for turning the fantasy into reality.
 Abusers will set you up and put his plan into action, creating a situation where he can justify abusing you.
 Abusers apologies and loving gestures in between the episodes of abuse can make it difficult to leave. The abuser makes
you believe that you are the only person who can help him/her, that things will be different this time, and that he truly
loves you. However, the dangers of staying are very real.

8. More than one million children in Canada have witnessed violence in the
home. Children are often caught in the crossfire of violence between their
parents and are physically hurt themselves.
The impact on children living in an abusive environment is devastating:
 Children who witness abuse exhibit the same symptoms as children who
are direct victims.
 Children who have grown up as witnesses or victims of abuse are 10
times more likely to live in a violent relationship when they are adults.
 Social, emotional and psychological consequences; low self-esteem, lack
of self-confidence, feelings of guilt for their parent’s suffering.
 Behavioral difficulties and conflict with other children.
 Poor academic performance and difficulty concentrating.
 They develop attitudes and learn behaviors which they may carry to
adulthood.

9. EMERGENCY CONTACT # EMERGENCY SHELTERS #
 Police & Ambulance 911  A Safe Place 780-464-7233
 Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-  Lurana Shelter 780-424-5875
363-9010  WIN House 780-479-0058
 Morinville RCMP 780-939-4520  LaSalle Shelter 780-442-0087
 Sturgeon County Victim Services  Wings of Providence 780-426-4985
780-939-4590  Sage (Seniors) 780-702-1520
 Emergency Social Services 780-427-  Youth Emergency Shelter 780-462-
3390 7070
 Child Welfare Intake 780-422-2001  Alberta Council of Women’s
 Kids Help Line 1-800-668-6868 Shelters 780-424-5875

10. SAFETY GUIDELINES
One of the most important things you can do when deciding to leave is to talk to a victim advocate who can help you fully consider safety issues,
understand your legal rights, and identify community resources (e.g. Shelters, sources of financial assistance, etc.). You can locate your local victim
advocate through your local police department.
You can contact the The National Domestic Violence Hotline @ 1-800-363-9010.
Victim advocates within the police service or community often play important roles in safety planning and risk assessment.
It is very important for you to keep you and your children as safe as possible. Get help, and learn what you need to know to get out safely:
• Identify your partner’s use and level of force so that you can assess the danger before it happens.
• Identify the safe areas on the house where there are no weapons and where there are always ways to escape. If arguments occur, try to move to
those areas.
• Don’t run to where the children are as your partner may hurt them as well.
• If violence is unavoidable, make yourself a small target. Dive into a corner and curl up into a ball with your face protected and your arms around
either side of your head, fingers entwined
• If possible, have a phone accessible at all times and know the numbers to call for help. Don’t be afraid to call for help. Don’t be afraid to call the
police.
• Let trusted friends and family know. decide which neighbors to tell about the violence so they can call the police if necessary.
• Teach your children how to get help. Instruct them not to get involved in the violence between you and your partner. Plan a code word to signal
that they should leave the house.
• Teach your children that violence is never right, even when someone they love is being violent.
• Practice how to get out safely. Practice with your children.
• Find out where to go to safety. Keep weapons like guns and knives locked up.
• Make a habit of backing your car up in the driveway and keeping your car fueled.
• Try not to wear scarves or long jewelry that could be used to strangle you.
• Create plausible reasons for leaving the house at different times of the day.
• Call a victim advocate, shelters, or domestic hotline to keep up to date of your options.