DV Tools

Black Women's Health Project named DV (domestic violence) as the #1 health issues faced by Black women. We will not improve Black women's health outcomes when we are not well-versed on this factor. The following resources are they that have been utilized for Black women we have worked with since 2019 and have been proven to be effective.

DV Definition & Types

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE (DV) a/k/a DOMESTIC ABUSE (DA) a/k/a INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE (IPV): a pattern of behavior from a former or current an intimate partner used to gain/maintain power and control over the other partner

TEEN DATING VIOLENCE a/k/a TDV: identical to definition above except this violence happens between/among teenagers who are dating.

Emotional / Psychological

Non-physical behaviors that are meant to control, isolate, or frighten the victim. Branches of EMOTIONAL ARE:

COERCIVE CONTROL: considered by CDC (Center for Disease Control) and other resources to be a branch of emotional abuse. "Puppeteering" behavior, as the victim rarely understands that the abuser is using seemingly ordinary things to threaten the victim of impending harm if certain behaviors are/are not displayed. Victims have talked about a certain intimidating foot stomping while walking, breathing, the manner in which they place their arm on the back of the sofa, etc., by the perpetrator letting them know if they didn't comply a punishment of some sort would follow. Extensive research has been conducted in the United Kingdom - nearly 400 case studies - and this timeline holds up. Because it does, the researcher, families of victims, and the victims who escaped believe it is ***a reliable indicator the perpetrator is willing to commit homicide***
VERBAL: emotional abuse that involves the use of oral language, gestured language, and written language directed toward victim
SPIRITUAL/RELIGIOUS: a form of emotional abuse that can involve someone using religious or spiritual beliefs to hurt, scare, or control another person

Stalking: Physical/Digital

Harassing or threatening behavior that the perpetrator engages in repeatedly, such as following a person, appearing at a person’s home or place of business, making harassing phone calls, leaving written messages or objects, tracking/monitoring them on social media, connecting with/attempting to connect with/messaging them on social media, text, or email, or vandalizing a person’s property ***a reliable indicator the perpetrator is willing to commit homicide***

Sexual Abuse/Coercion

Reproductive Coercion

Rape/forced sexual behaviors-including the taking and/or posting of sexually illicit images of a partner/former partner to use as blackmail, guilt/shame into unwanted sexual behaviors, forced/ignored/sabotaged birth control methods or forced pregnancies

Image-Based Sexual Abuse

Formerly known as revenge porn (see SEXUAL ABUSE definition)

Physical

Hitting, slapping, kicking, punching, or otherwise physically hurting the victim

Financial / Economic

Control over finances OR sabotage of finances OR sabotage of ability to gain/retain finances

Important Note!

What did you see?

Whether you're a teen or an adult, if reading through the section above reminds you of anything you have or are dealing with, there is help. You need a safety planning expert who can help. One is available 24/7 to help. That's who I leaned on several times; you can trust them. Click the button below to get the support you need and deserve, Beautiful.

Get Help - NDVH

Culturally-Responsive Crisis Tools

Beautiful, here are the crisis tools made by us FOR us - either created and/or provided by Black or Black female providers

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Courageous Access

This is our sister organization and nonprofit especially created by its Founding Executive Director, Courageous Fire, to provide direct, holistic services to Black DV women and the children they are raising. From support through the early stages of fleeing victimization through the rebuilding stages AFTER being separated from the abuser.

Back the Black

When leaving or stabilizing after DV, you and your new family will need mental health support.

You can find a carefully curated website created by Black Iowans just for you to find:

Black therapists in Iowa
And more! Click 'Back the Black' then select "General Resources"

Count the Kicks

Poor pregnancy outcomes is one of the manifestations seen for Black women due to the long term elevated levels of cortisol that accompany DV. Counting the kicks for your baby is key to early detection of problems for the fetus or the mother during pregnancy. Click the button below to watch the video and download the app.

Mainstream Crisis Tools

These tools are for those who are living with the abuser and need help to safely exit:

National: National Domestic Violence Hotline
State of Iowa: ICADV

National Domestic Violence Hotline

The National Domestic Violence Hotline is a 24/7 crisis tool that I found to be useful in many different ways. They are NOT a mandatory reporter, they will NOT call the police. Here are a few, but feel free to inquire about others that may come to mind:

Identifying abuse types from your specific experience. I found great comfort in spewing my seeming nonsense and having a trained professional validate that experience. I was relieved as they unraveled my confusion and gave me direction by putting a name to my torture.
Talking to someone who shows compassion. As I began to climb out of DV, I encountered many challenges - some of those were my circle not understanding the methods I had to use to keep myself and children safe. Being able to pick up the phone and talk with a human really helped keep me grounded.
Finding other DV resources you may not know of. I mentioned changing challenges in my journey. Sometimes I would call them and tell them what was happening and they would tell me the phone number, hours, usage, etc., for something to assist me with that challenged that I didn't know existed. They have the up-to-date information for DV resources for every state in the country!
Safety planning guidance. 75% of DV-related murders happen when the victim is leaving or is already separated from the abuser. The most dangerous time frame is within the first 18 months of the separation.

I found them to be very adept in looking at your specific situation: whether you're married, have kids or not, own the home/apartment or not, have biological kids with the abuser, are working, share a vehicle, etc., and be able to help brainstorm on the best ways to maintain your safety in your specific circumstance.

Call

Chat OR Create Safety Plan

Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV)

ICADV is the state organization that oversees, trains, and funds the state's certified DV agencies. We have specific checkpoint people in this organization that have been respectful with Black women, helpful, and follow through with connecting us to resources during the time when we are fleeing the active violence and after. You can call them directly or you can email us providing your safe email address and at least first name for us to connect you to our contact.

Call ICADV Direct

Email to be Connected

Black Men
Tools

These tools are for Black men who:

are safe and want to influence those who might not be
realize they may be harming Black women and want to learn to stop

Black Women Protector Training

Brothers, did you know there is a certain type of thinking that has influenced the way you view what is wrong and right in relationship behavior? That thinking - that a stranger shouldn't harm a woman on your watch BUT a man who harms "his" woman in your viewing should be approached with hesitancy or not at all because it's none of your business? A male-led organization gave that thinking a name: The Man Box. Those who climb out of it, can create a climate that discourages gender-based violence. Click the appropriate button below to learn more about the Man Box or book the Black Women Protector Training.

Learn More About the Box

Book the Training

Proactive: A Men's Healthy Relationship Group

Iowa State University, ICADV, and a group of leaders in the victim services field, including Courageous Fire, LLC, collaborated to create, launch, and evaluate this program. This program is specifically for those men who know or believe that they have been or will likely be contributors to gender-based violence - DV that men perpetrate upon women - and they want to have a safe, judgment-free space to learn how to have healthy relationships, including those with their current and/or future intimate partners. This is a FREE program that has already had its first full cohort. It is not a mandatory program, and it does not report to any program in which you may be participating. This program is for men who have the motive of wanting to change simply because they want to do what is right - not because they want a system, group, or individual to know they're doing what is right. Click the button below to learn more and sign up.

Learn More About It