What is a Healthy Relationship?

On Sept 7th, 2006 DCBiWomen hosted a meeting about healthy and unhealthy relationships. Members found this information was so valuable that we are making the hand-outs available here as downloadable files.

Did you know between 25-42% of women will be abused by a partner? (this applies in heterosexual and same-sex relationships). The hand-outs at the right are available as downloads to help you:

• Define a healthy relationship
• Understand the warning signs of an unhealthy or abusive relationship
• Know what to do if someone close to you is a victim of dating or domestic violence
• Understand unique circumstances surrounding same-sex couples
  
  

Meeting Materials:

The materials below are available in Adobe PDF format. Click here to download and install Adobe's free PDF Reader program.

• Signs of a Healthy Relationship
• Equality Wheel (highlighting healthy behaviors)
• Warning Signs of Domestic Violence
• Power and Control Wheel
• GLBT Power and Control Wheel
• Power and Control in GLBT Relationships
• How Can I Help a Friend or Family Menber Who is Being Abused?
• National and DC/MD/VA Resources
• Domestic Violence Statistics
• Domestic Violence Statistics: Same Sex Relationships

National and DC/MD/VA Resources

• National Domestic Violence Hotline
  1-800-799-SAFE

• DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence
  www.dccadv.org
  202-299-1181

• DC Rape Crisis Center
  www.dcrcc.org
  24- Hour Hotline: 202-333-7273

• Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence
  www.mnadv.org
  1-800-MD-HELPS (Hotline)

• Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance   
  http://vadv.org/
• 24-Hour Hotline: 800-838-8238

Legal Resources

• Women's Law
  http://womenslaw.org/

How to Get a Civil Protection Order

• DC Protection Order Information (http://womenslaw.org/DC/DC_main.htm)

• VA Protection Order Information (http://womenslaw.org/VA/VA_how_to.htm)

• MD Protection Order Information (http://womenslaw.org/MD/MD_how_to.htm)

The above is only a small selection of the many resources available in the Metro region.  Please visit www.dccadv.org/docs/resource_manual.pdf for a comprehensive manual describing the many agencies providing services in our area, including those focusing on the LGBT population. 

• The Anti-Violence Project publishes excellent National Reports regarding domestic violence in same-sex relationships, available at www.avp.org. 

Recommended Books:

• Why Does He Do That?  Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men
  by Lundy Bancroft (2002)

• Intimate Betrayal: Domestic Violence in Lesbian Relationships
  Edited by Ellyn Kaschak (2002)