Domestic and Sexual Violence Quick Reference Sheet

Note: Domestic and sexual violence impacts all cultures, ages, genders, socio-economic and educational levels and all sexual orientations.

Domestic Violence Defined 
A pattern of physical and or psychological abuse, threats, intimidation, isolation or economic coercion used by one person to exert power and control over another person within the context of a dating, family or household relationship.

Teen Dating Violence Defined
Domestic violence (as defined above) occurring within teen dating relationships. 
Note: Young adult college students may also be included.

Types of Abuse
Physical Abuse:  Any intentional unwanted contact with the victim's body by either the abuser or an object within the abuser's control. Physical abuse does not have to leave a mark or bruise. It does not even need to hurt. It includes the following behaviors:

Sexual Abuse:  Any sexual behavior that is unwanted or interferes with the victim's right to say "No" to sexual advances (also listed below in sexual violence).
Verbal/Emotional Abuse:  Anything that the abuser says or does to the victim that causes the victim to be afraid, lowers the victim's self-esteem, or manipulates or controls the victim's feelings or behavior:

Calling the victim names/putting the victim down

Yelling and screaming

Intentionally embarrassing the victim in front of other people

Keeping the victim from seeing or talking with friends or family

Telling the victim what to do

Using the online communities or cell phones to control, intimidate, or humiliate the victim

Making the victim feel responsible for the violence

Stalking

Threatening to commit suicide in order to manipulate the victim

Threats of violence or harm, or to expose the victim's secrets, or to take away the victim's children

Stalking:  While legal definitions of stalking vary from one jurisdiction to another, a good working definition of stalking is a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear.

Cell Phones and Abuse:  Cell phones are a great way to keep in touch with friends and family.  Cell phones can play a role in teen and adult dating abuse. Abusers can use cell phones as a powerful tool to keep in constant contact and monitor their girlfriends or boyfriends day and night.

Safe Online Relationships/Social Networking (i.e. Myspace & Facebook):  These tools allow you to stay in contact with your friends, but can also allow others to monitor your life and have access to information that can be used to harm you.

Sexual Violence Defined

Any Sexual Act that is perpetrated against someone's will

Types of Sexual Violence

Rape:  Forced through threats or physical means

Partner Rape:  Forced by their current partner

Acquaintance Rape:  Involves coercive sexual activities that occur against the person's will by means of force, violence or duress, or fear of bodily injury by someone they know

Child Sexual Abuse:  Sexual violence against children often includes incest as a subset of this form of sexual violence.

Incest:  Sexual contact between persons who are so closely related that their marriage is illegal. This usually takes the form of an older family member sexually abusing a younger family member.

Sexual Abuse:  Any sexual behavior that is unwanted or interferes with the victim's right to say "No" to sexual advances. It includes the following behaviors:

• Rape
• Unwanted kissing or touching
• Forcing the victim to go further than they want (even if they have had sex before)
• Unwanted rough or violent sexual activity
• Denial of the victim using birth control or protection against sexually transmitted diseases

Resources for Joliet/South Suburbs Area:

South Suburban Family Shelter

877-335-3020

www.ssfs1.org

Homewood, IL

Shelter, counseling and advocacy services for domestic violence

Southwest Women Working Together

773-582-0550

4051 W. 63rd Street
Chicago, IL 60629

Domestic Violence Emergency Response, Hotline, Crisis & Violence Intervention Services

South Suburban PADS

708-754-4357

414 W. Lincoln Hwy

Chicago Heights, IL 60411

http://www.sspads.org/

Homeless Prevention, Housing Assistance Programs, Employment Readiness Training

Aunt Martha's Youth Service Center

877-692-8686

www.auntmarthas.org

159 E. 154^th St.

Harvey, IL 60426

Emergency Shelter, Teen Services, Substance Abuse Treatment

Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS)

1-800-252-2873

www.state.il.us/dcfs/index.shtml

100 West Randolph Street 6-200
Chicago IL , 60601
Child Protection