Maria’s Voice
Strategy and Actions
Educate Everyone about Domestic Violence Prevention!
After Maria’s murder, we said, “If we can prevent this from happening to just one family, Maria would be so proud of us.” We realized that our family did not know how to recognize the signs of domestic abuse, and we believe Maria did not either. We also did not know about a public health model that has saved millions of lives and decreased harmful outcomes.
That is called Prevention Education.
Almost 56 million women (1 in 3) and 42 million men (1 in 4) in the U.S. will experience domestic violence in their lifetime. AND people who are victimized by domestic abuse and their immediate community most often cannot recognize that what they are experiencing in their relationship is domestic abuse. Abusive behaviors, often subtle at the beginning, frequently escalate with dangerous and costly outcomes.
Together, prevention education of domestic violence is a powerful force for GOOD.
Strategy
We Focus on Prevention Keys:
Awareness, Education and Safe Action.
Awareness breaks the silence around domestic violence. Education about the behaviors abusers choose to control their intimate partner helps avoid abusers or helps to exit a relationship before violence escalates. An aware and educated community alerted to safe actions puts a safety zone around family, friends, neighbors and coworkers.
We Take Action
Maria’s Voice brings the Prevention Network education program to large groups of employees and members like cities, businesses, organizations, education, health care, and faith communities. We educate families, neighbors, and friends at large community events and business expos. Here’s what we do:
Prevention Network
Accessible Education
• Award Winning video
• Printed educational materials: Spanish, English, Somali
• Printed Resources for Help Material: Spanish, English, Somali
How We Support
Prevention Network Members
• On-site and Virtual Education Presentations
• Company Sponsored Events
• Rocky Squad Kids Education Program
Can Prevention Education help decrease domestic violence?
YES!
With aware and educated community support, those who may be targeted by abusive behavior can avoid, prevent, or get safely out of a harmful relationship quickly.
An aware and educated community has the power to significantly decrease harm!
Victimization decreases: The frequency and length of emotional and physical abuse lessens when the behaviors of domestic abuse are common knowledge.
The need for after-care decreases: shelters and police intervention.
