Did You Know….

  • A woman is battered every 9 seconds.

  • Domestic Violence results in more injuries that require medical treatment than rape, auto accidents, and muggings combined.

  • Each year, husbands or partners kill more than 1,000 women– or about four women per day.

  • One in six pregnant women reported physical or sexual abuse during pregnancy

  • Nearly 2 out of 3 female victims of violence were related to or knew their attackers.

  • In murders by boys ages 11 to 20, 63% killed the man that was abusing their mother.

 

What is Abuse?

Abuse covers a range of harmful and undesirable behaviors that have a grave impact on a victim’s life or may cause the death of the victim. Abuse typically can be classified into five general categories: physical, emotional, sexual, economic and psychological. Physical abuse can include but is not limited to hitting, kicking, punching, mutilating and choking. While all these behaviors are dangerous, many women underestimate the dangers of being choked (strangled). Emotional abuse can include humiliation, name-calling, constant harassment or criticism or other forms of verbal abuse. Sexual abuse is defined as nonconsensual sexual contact of any kind and includes rape and unwanted sexual practices. Withholding or taking money and controlling all household finances are some examples of economic abuse. Finally, psychological abuse involves such behaviors as playing mind games or tricks on the victim or hiding objects such as car keys from the victim.

 

Services Offered:

Individual Counseling

New Directions Safe House

Help forming a Personal Safety Plan

Weekly Support Group Meetings

Information and Referrals

For more information contact:
Adult Counseling Coordinator at (252) 758-4400  

 

Abuse In Later Life

Family violence or abuse can happen to any senior adult. It is a hidden problem that is rarely reported. Some studies indicate that only about 1 in 14 incidents are reported.  The Abuse in Later Life Project represents a multidisciplinary initiative to address the needs of victims age 55 and older in Pitt County, North Carolina. Services of the Project include information, counseling, support groups, outreach, legal and economic support services and emergency housing. The project is also the home of the Violence in Aging Council (VIAC), an advisory group that meets monthly in order to establish protocols and monitor progress on the Project.

Project Staff are available for presentations on abuse in later life and the services of the project.

For more information or to schedule a presentation,
contact the project staff:

Outreach Coordinator
smunzer@pittfvp.org

Adult Counselor
sschwing@pittfvp.org

lcerutti@pittfvp.org

or
(252) 758-4400