COVID-19: WomenRising’s Domestic Violence services have not been halted due to COVID-19.
Call us today to get the help you deserve. (201) 333-5700.
DV Safety Plan
Now more than ever it is crucial for victims of domestic violence to have a safety plan. Click here to see where to start.
Domestic Violence: 45 years of services
WomenRising is the State of New Jersey’s designated provider for Hudson County’s domestic violence programming. For over 40 years, WomenRising has provided direct, immediate and comprehensive access to services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for women and children victimized by domestic violence.
Services include:
24-hour hotline
Bilingual staff
DV Emergency Shelter
Crisis intervention
Resources /referrals
Counseling and support
DV Response Teams with trained volunteers
Support groups
Assistance with legal rights, restraining orders and court accompaniment
Community Outreach and Education
Court Liaison
Learn about Domestic Violence
Domestic Violence (D.V.) is a pattern of abusive behavior in which one person gains and maintains power and control over another person in the relationship.
Who is affected by Domestic Violence?
Anyone can be a victim of domestic violence.
Victims can be of any age, sex, race, culture, religion, education, employment or marital status. Partners may be married or not married; heterosexual, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender; living together, separating, dating or related.
There are many forms of abuse used to gain and maintain power and control over another person such as physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional and psychological abuse and financial abuse. Some tactics used to gain and maintain power and control over another person are; threats of violence, pushing, slapping, pinching, biting, punching, kicking, strangling, sexual assaults, name calling, isolation, intimidation, breaking one self-esteem down, withholding money, stalking etc ...
If you are a victim of domestic violence please know that you are not alone, it is not your fault and help is available.
What are some types of abuse?
> Physical Abuse
Physical abuse is a force that may result in bodily injury, physical pain, or impairment.
Pushing
Slapping
Punching
Kicking
Biting
Strangling
Food and sleep deprivation
Driving recklessly
Forcing you to use drugs or alcohol
Using weapons to threaten or harm you
> Emotional and Psychological Abuse
Emotional or psychological abuse is characterized by a person subjecting are exposing another person to behavior that may result in psychological trauma, including anxiety, chronic depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder.
Name calling
Insults
Jealousy
Possessiveness
Lack of trusts
Lack of equality
Monitoring your activity
Home imprisonment
Blaming you
Humiliating you
Threatening to harm you, children, family or pets
> Sexual Abuse
A sexual act committed against someone without that person’s freely given consent.
Completed or attempted forced penetration of a victim
Completed or attempted alcohol/drug-facilitated penetration of a victim
Completed or attempted forced acts in which a victim is made to penetrate a perpetrator
Non-physically forced penetration which occurs after a person is pressured verbally or through intimidation
Unwanted sexual contact
Non-contact unwanted sexual experiences such as sexual comments
> Financial Abuse
Financial abuse includes tactics to limit the partners access to assets or conceal information and accessibility to the family’s finances.
Not allowing the victim access to bank accounts
Withholding money or giving an allowance
Forbidding the victim from attending job training or advanced opportunities
Forcing the victim to work in a family business without pay
Refusing to pay bills and ruin the victim’s credit
New forcing the victim to turn over all finances
Stealing the victim’s identity property or inheritance
Running a large amounts of debt on joint accounts
Refusing to work or contribute to the family income
How can you help a loved one?
You may have a friend, relative, or neighbor who is being abused. You may have witnessed the violence, heard it, seen physical signs of it, or merely suspected it for various reasons. What should you do?
> Ask direct questions, gently. Give her ample opportunity to talk. Don’t run into providing solutions.
> Listen without judging. Abused women often believe their abusers’ negative messages. They feel responsible, ashamed, inadequate, and are afraid they will be judged.
> Let her know that you support and care about her, that she’s not responsible for the violence, that only the abuser can stop the violence.
> Explain that physical violence in a relationship is never acceptable, at any time. There is no excuse for it: not alcohol or drugs, not financial pressures, not depression, not jealousy.
> Make sure she knows that she’s not alone: that millions of American women from every ethnic, racial, and economic group suffer from abuse, and that many women find it difficult to leave.
> Also explain that domestic violence is a crime: as much of a crime as robbery or rape, and that she can seek protection through the justice system.
> If she has children, reinforce her concern for them, letting her know that this is damaging to children. In fact, you may want to reach out to support her children, and let them know you’re there for them too.
> Let her know that it is likely that, in spite of his promises, the violence will continue, and probably, escalate.
> Emphasize that when she is ready, she can make a choice to leave the relationship, and that there is help available.
> Provide her with information about local resources: the phone number of the local domestic violence hotline, support groups, counseling, shelter programs, and legal advocacy services.
> She may need financial assistance, or help finding a place to live, or a place to store her belongings. She may need assistance to escape. Decide if you feel comfortable helping out in these ways.
> If she is planning to leave, remind her to take important papers with her, such as birth certificates, passports, health insurance documents, etc.
> If she remains in the relationship, continue to be her friend while at the same time firmly communicating to her that she and her children do not deserve to be in this violent situation.
> If you see or hear an assault in progress, call the police. Because these assaults are often dangerous, do not physically intervene.
WomenRising DV Support Group Schedule
New Schedule Coming Soon!
Updated March 14th, 2024