SAFETY ALERT – If you are in danger, call or text 911.
Online (or digital) dating abuse--when a partner uses technology, such as a smartphone, social media, a tracking app, or another form of technology, to threaten, harass, and intimidate the person they're dating—is becoming more common. In fact, abuse prevention advocates report a significant uptick in the number of people, particularly teenage girls, who describe digital dating abuse in their relationships. Learn what digital abuse looks like and how to stay safe.
Victim blaming happens when a victim or survivor of sexual violence is held partially or completely responsible for the harm they experienced. It is a symptom of rape culture, in which our society minimizes the severity of sexual violence and normalizes attitudes and beliefs that defend acts of sexual violence. Victims of other violent crimes or health crises do not have to explain what they did to become victimized, but victims of sexual violence are too often forced to defend their actions leading up to an experience of sexual violence. This contributes to an environment where survivors who share their stories are blamed, disbelieved, and shamed.
Safety Planning with Pets
Nearly 50% of survivors of interpersonal violence report they delay leaving a dangerous situation because they have no way to keep their pet safe. If you are in an unhealthy relationship and have pets in your home, it can be a good idea to make your pets part of your safety plan. Follow these suggestions to ensure all your loved ones have a path to safety.
What to Do If You’re Being Stalked
Stalkers are unpredictable and can be dangerous. You can’t control their behavior, but you should feel empowered to take steps to keep yourself, your family, and your other loved ones safe. Follow these eight tips.
5 Ways for Teens to Be a Healthy Bystander
By building teens' abilities to identify and respond to unhealthy relationships, we can encourage our young people to interrupt the cycle of violence through bystander intervention. Learn more.
The Domestic Violence Action Center’s Ayaan Ali Wins Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court Partner Award
Ayaan Ali, victim advocate with the Domestic Violence Action Center (DVAC), received the Fairfax County Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court (JDRDC) Partner Award. The award was established to honor the partnerships that exist between JDRDC and its neighbors and to celebrate the community efforts which enhance the mission of the agency. Learn more.
County Conversation Podcast: Unpacking Gender Initiative
The messages we are taught about gender can affect our relationships with ourselves, our loved ones, and the community. On this County Conversation podcast episode, Heather Potter, counselor with Domestic and Sexual Violence Services’ Anger & Domestic Abuse Prevention and Treatment program, and host Jim Person discuss the impact gender roles and stereotypes have on everyone and how this knowledge can help us prevent violence.
November is National Homeless Youth Awareness Month
Homelessness and sexual violence are inextricably linked, especially for youth living on the street. Recent research shows young adults experiencing homelessness are as much as 35% more likely to experience sexual violence as housed youth. November is National Homeless Youth Awareness Month, observed every year since 2007 to raise awareness about children and families dealing with homelessness and to educate the public on ways to end the problem. Get more facts about this population.
5 Safe Voting Tips for Survivors
As Election Day approaches next week, remember that survivors of intimate partner violence deserve to—and can—participate in all aspects of this country’s political process, including voting, without fearing violence from someone who has caused them harm. Follow these tips to stay safe.
Domestic and Sexual Violence Services Toni Zollicoffer Appointed to State’s Advisory Committee on Sexual and Domestic Violence
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin appointed Domestic and Sexual Violence Services Division Director Toni Zollicoffer to the Advisory Committee on Sexual and Domestic Violence. Learn more.
LGBTQIA+ Language Guide
Words matters! And this language guide is an excellent resource to help folks better understand terms related to sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression used in LGBTQIA+ communities. It is not exhaustive, though, and since people use language in different ways, the best practice is always to honor how an individual identifies themselves.
How Fairfax County’s Interpersonal Violence Organizations Stood up to Covid
Covid-19 did much more than make the world sick. The global pandemic stretched our health, public health, and scientific resources and exposed gaps, including in those agencies and organizations that support people impacted by interpersonal violence. Fairfax County’s Domestic and Sexual Violence Services division and its partners take a look at the effect of the virus on the community, staffing, and morale in its Meeting the Movement and Beyond: A Post Pandemic Look report.
What Is Domestic Violence?
Domestic violence is behavior that harms a current or former spouse or dating partner. It also impacts family members, children, and other people in the home. Domestic violence can happen between people of any gender or sexuality. Learn more about examples of domestic violence.
The HYPE Project
This youth-focused, 8-session curriculum teaches participants about intimate partner violence and sexual assault prevention. Through hands-on activities, multimedia, role-play exercises and facilitated discussions, teens will have opportunities to examine various elements of relationships and develop skills to identify and replicate healthy dynamics in interpersonal interactions. Topics are also available as standalone workshops. Learn more about the HYPE Project.
DSVS Staff on the County Conversation
For detailed discussions about Domestic and Sexual Violence Services’ resources and support for survivors of gender-based violence, check out Domestic and Sexual Violence Services on the County Conversation Podcast.
Domestic and Sexual Violence Services Division Director Receives Hope Award
Toni Zollicoffer took home the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance Hope Award last fall for her work on partner abuse intervention and prevention. Recommendations from the study group she led have already sparked changes in the way local and state agencies address the harm that takes place within intimate partner relationships. Learn more about Toni and her work in the Department of Family Services Domestic and Sexual Violence Services division.
Pronouns: Why Do They Matter?
Language matters. Language is a tool that helps us convey meaning and connect. We use words to communicate, characterize, and describe everything around us. Nothing may be more personal than the words people use to refer to us through our names and pronouns, which represent key elements of our identity.
We use pronouns and names frequently in our everyday written and verbal communication. Most of us have learned from a young age to use “she/her” for girls and “he/him” for boys. As our society has progressed in understanding gender identity, our language has also evolved. Learn how to model the use of pronouns and why this practice shows respect.
Fairfax County’s Red Flag Law Encourages People to Speak Up: Prevent a Gun Tragedy
On Monday, Dec. 13, 2021, county and community leaders, including Domestic and Sexual Violence Services’ Angela Yeboah, shared information and impactful stories of the Red Flag Law’s use to prevent gun violence and issued a call-to-action for the community to contact authorities who can act quickly to prevent tragedies. Check out this video to learn more.
Hope Cards Now Offered in Fairfax County
Fairfax County now participates in the Hope Card program, a way to enforce a civil protective order and a handy resource for victims of family abuse. A Hope Card is a laminated wallet-sized card that contains all the essential information of an existing, permanent civil protection order.
Hope Cards have been around for a while but they're a new resource in Fairfax County for victims of family violence, intimate partner violence, stalking or sexual assault. The Hope Card can reduce the time on scene for officers responding to incidents of protection order violations, allow officers to verify if there is a valid protective order in place and can provide a sense of security to victims. It also helps keep officers safer by informing law enforcement about weapons involved in the incident resulting in a protective order. Learn more about the Hope Card.
Talking About It Matters: Domestic Violence in the LGBTQ+ Community
Though it might not be clear from mainstream media, domestic violence is not limited to heterosexual relationships and can affect individuals of all sexual orientations and genders.
In fact, recent research shows intimate partner violence within the LGBTQ+ community occurs at a rate equal to or even higher than that of members of the heterosexual community.
Learn more about domestic violence in the LGBTQ+ community or call the Domestic and Sexual Violence 24-Hour Hotline 703-360-7273.
Video: Domestic and Sexual Violence Services Supports Victims of Gender-Based Violence
Domestic violence and sexual violence are two separate issues and how they are addressed is different, too. Learn more about how the Department of Family Services’ Domestic and Sexual Violence Services division supports survivors of all forms of gender-based violence.
Note: This video contains images that may be disturbing or triggering.
Learn about sexual assault, domestic violence and how Domestic and Sexual Violence Services supports survivors. Get information about DSVS resources by calling the Domestic and Sexual Violence 24-Hour Hotline 703-360-7273.
Video: You Are Not Alone
During this national emergency, domestic violence and sexual abuse is on the rise by at least 20%. Often stuck at home with their abusers, victims may feel trapped and alone. But there is help still available. Fairfax County’s Domestic and Sexual Violence Services provides options and services for victims 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We created this video to spread the word - “You Are Not Alone.
Note: This video contains images that may be disturbing or triggering.
Learn about sexual assault, domestic violence and how Domestic and Sexual Violence Services supports survivors. Get information about DSVS resources by calling the Domestic and Sexual Violence 24-Hour Hotline 703-360-7273.
The Intersection of Gender-Based Violence and Economics
Ending gender-based violence requires us to see all the aspects of the issue. Often, when we think of intimate partner violence, we envision only bruises or broken bones—things we can see—or perhaps verbal abuse. But domestic violence takes many forms, including financial abuse, a subject that is often overlooked.
The truth is personal safety and economic security are inextricably linked for victims of domestic violence. Research from the Centers for Financial Security shows financial abuse is present in 99 percent of domestic violence cases. Learn more about the intersection of domestic violence and financial abuse, call the Domestic and Sexual Violence 24-Hotline 703-360-7273.