The Awareness documents were developed by the Domestic Violence Outreach (DVO) Team when we were part of the Archdiocese of Chicago. You will find some documents that were designed specifically for a Catholic faith community. Other documents reach a much broader audience. DVO’s intention is to reach out to all people, to other faith traditions, to the LGBTQ+ community, and to non-believers. The Awareness resources will reflect our outreach.
Awareness
Content Sections
Dimensions of Domestic Violence
Establishing a Ministry
Activities and Resources
Training
Speaking Out and Homilies
Bishops’ Position on Domestic Violence
Violence Against Women Act - VAWA
Dimensions of Domestic Violence
Establishing a Ministry
Activities and Resources
Training
Speaking Out and Homilies
Bishops’ Position on Domestic Violence
Violence Against Women Act - VAWA
Dimensions of Domestic Violence
- National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, 2010, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This survey provides most current, reliable measures of intimate partner violence (PDF)
- “Cycle of Violence,” Life Span (PDF)
- “Do’s and Don’ts with a Battered Woman,” Faith and Trust Institute. (.pptx)
- Domestic Violence First Person Account: Leslie Morgan Steiner’s Story; Could you graduate from Harvard and not recognize that you are an abused woman? (Watch Video)
- Domestic Violence First Person Account: Nicci’s Story; Could your boyfriend beat you up and you apologize to him? Could you not know that you are an abused teen? (Watch Video)
- Domestic Violence First Person Accounts: “Sin by Silence.” This heart-wrenching DVD relates the stories of women victims of domestic violence who were driven to desperate actions. Abusive relationships sometime last for decades. This DVD is available for purchase at (www.sinbysilence.com)
- Power and Control Wheel, Domestic Violence Intervention Programs (www.theduluthmodel.org)
- Safety Planning for Survivors, Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence (.doc)
- Ending Violence Against Women, Center for Health and Gender Equity, Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health. The presence of intimate partner violence varies greatly from culture to culture around the world. Culture influences what children learn about violence against women (PDF)
- Women Healing the Wounds, National Council of Catholic Women. This brochure discusses domestic violence and dating violence dimensions. It explores awareness, services and prevention (PDF)
Establishing a Ministry
- Ministry Starter Kit (PDF)
- Forming a DV Ministry - Fr. Chuck (Spanish)
- Forming a DV Ministry - Letter from Fr. Chuck (PDF)
- Steps to Forming a Domestic Violence Ministry (PDF)
- Ministry Models 2024 (PDF)
- Ministry Models in Spanish (PDF)
- Domestic Violence Background Reading (PDF)
- Setting Up a DV Ministry – An Example (PDF)
- DV Ministry Milestones: activities (.xls)
- Ministry Mentor Guidelines – This document outlines how a parish ministry mentor works with a new parish domestic violence ministry. (PDF)
- Point of Contact Card – For use in women’s restrooms only.
- Incoming Calls to Parish (Word)
Activities and Resources
- Prayers of the Faithful (PDF)
- Awareness Months Activities
- Domestic Violence Awareness Month - October (PDF)
Domestic Violence Awareness Month – October. The following are ten informational graphics that can be useful as parish bulletin inserts, social media posts or in other settings. (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10) - Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (February). The following are twenty-eight informational graphics that can be useful as parish bulletin inserts, social media posts or in other settings. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14) (15) (16) (17) (18) (19) (20) (21) (22) (23) (24) (25) (26) (27) (28)
- Domestic Violence Awareness Month - October (PDF)
Training
- Domestic Violence Ministry Training is a two-hour seminar designed for parishes that are developing an active domestic violence ministry. Training is offered in English and Spanish. Training is via Zoom on Saturday mornings from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. (pptx)
- Domestic Violence Parish Staff Training is a two-hour seminar designed for parish leadership. This seminar is especially important for pastors, priests, deacons, principals, directors of religious education and other staff members who may encounter domestic violence victims, witnesses to domestic violence or abusers. Training is via Zoom at the convenience of the staff. (pptx)
- Domestic Violence Ministry Training - Spanish (.pptx)
- Training goals are:
- Establish an intellectual and emotional basis for understanding and ministering to domestic violence victims and witnesses and for dealing with abusers.
- Recognize that prevention is a critical component of an effective domestic violence ministry.
- Provide sound information, good reference materials, and useful resources. First-person accounts of domestic violence experiences are an integral part of our training seminars.
- Training Videos:
Speaking Out and Homilies
Catholic Bishops’ Position on Domestic Violence
“As pastors of the Catholic Church in the United States, we state as clearly and strongly as we can that violence against women, inside or outside the home, is never justified. Violence in any form — physical, sexual, psychological, or verbal — is sinful; often, it is a crime as well.” The document below details the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) position.
Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
This is a 1994 federal law that responds to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking
- VAWA Background (Link)
- VAWA and Immigration Status: VAWA has a broad scope and it provides relief for certain domestic and human trafficking victims who are not citizens of the United States. (icwclaw.org)
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services: See Humanitarian for specifics (www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis)
