COVID-19

The presence of COVID-19 has brought to light the challenges faced by millions of men, women, and children. Take this opportunity to protect those less fortunate. Protect yourself and stay safe. Indeed, this too shall pass, and when it does, may we all be stronger, better informed, and healthy.

In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve sought refuge in the safety of our homes, but the pandemic highlighted that not every woman, man, or child is safe in the place they call home. Being on lock down, with far fewer choices to move about and earn a living, not only increased financial hardship and anxiety, but also increased the risk of domestic and partner violence. Research shows that intensified parental stress is often a significant predictor of physical abuse and neglect of children, making the youngest among us especially vulnerable to abuse. Extended family, childcare, schools, religious groups, and other community organizations traditionally providing resources which at-risk families rely on are experiencing difficulties keeping up with needs and/or services may no longer be available.

Our message is three-fold:

Give whenever and wherever you can.
If you know of a loved one, friend, or neighbor who is living in a violent household, please check-in with them as often as possible, of course following social distancing guidelines.
Our website contains a wealth of local and national resources – from Shelter House located in Northern Virginia to national initiatives such as the National Domestic Violence Hotline; feel free to integrate what you need.