The Second Step

Alexis Smith, winner of the Miss Kansas pageant called out her domestic violence abuser from the stage during her final interview in becoming Miss Kansas. "My vision as the next Miss Kansas is to eliminate unhealthy and abusive relationships," she began. "Matter of fact, some of you out in this audience saw me very emotional because my abuser is here today." Her story is a powerful reminder of resilience and the ability to turn pain into purpose. Thank you Miss Kansas for your courage, strength and candor. Here at The Second Step, we empower survivors to heal from trauma and ensure access to the resources and support needed to be safe, independent, and well. If you or someone you know needs help or support, please contact an advocate today at 617-965-2538. https://lnkd.in/eR2-ctKP

Our final day, day 5 of our new series Domestic Violence Myth Busters Week is here! Today’s myth is that domestic violence can work both ways, with both partners abusing each other. Abuse is a pattern of power and control that one person holds over the other, therefore, abuse cannot be “both ways.” Folks often find themselves in unhealthy or “toxic” relationships that aren’t necessarily domestic violence, but can still be detrimental. Some examples of those types of behavior include cheating on each other, yelling at each other, or frequently fighting. The key difference is that one partner doesn’t hold more power over the other and put the other partner in fear for their safety or wellbeing. Comment something you learned from our Domestic Violence Mythbusters Week below ⬇️

Our day four myth for Domestic Violence Myth Busters Week is the myth that children who live in homes with domestic violence don’t know that it’s going on. Studies actually show that most children know about the violence going on in their homes and want to talk about it with a trusted adult. That’s why it’s so important for us to support child survivors of domestic violence, regardless of whether or not they experienced abuse firsthand. Children who have not been the target of abuse can still have trauma from witnessing a parent in these situations, and our advocates are always happy to share resources for child survivors of violence.

For day three of our Domestic Violence Myth Busters Week, we’re talking about leaving relationships when there’s domestic violence. It’s a common myth that if a survivor stays in their relationship, then the abuse must not be that bad. This myth is incorrect because it is extremely hard and dangerous to leave an abusive relationship! Survivors often stay because they fear it’s more dangerous to leave. Abusers use fear and threats to make survivors stay, and abuse can escalate if a survivor is caught making plans to leave. Additionally, it takes an average of 7 attempts to successfully leave an abusive relationship! If you know a survivor, please don’t pressure them to leave their abuser, because they might feel judged or isolate further from you. If you are a survivor looking to leave your relationship, advocates at The Second Step can help you plan the safest way to leave your relationship.

For day two of our Domestic Violence Myth Busters Week, we’re talking about who experiences domestic violence. There is a common myth that only women experience domestic violence, and only men cause harm. It is important to understand the ways in which women are disproportionately impacted by domestic violence and uplift and support survivors of gender-based violence. However, we want to highlight that people with any gender identity can be a survivor, and people with any gender identity can perpetrate harm. By spreading the myth that only women are survivors, we further isolate a group of survivors who also deserve care and healing. The Second Step is proud to serve all survivors regardless of gender.

Today marks the first day of our new series: Domestic Violence Myth Busters Week! Each day this week, we will be sharing a common myth about domestic violence, as well as the true information. For our first day, we will be busting the myth that all abuse is physical. There are many different types of abuse that occur within violent relationships, including verbal, sexual, emotional, financial, cultural, and digital. No one type of abuse is more real than the other. Survivors of any type of abuse should be believed and validated. At The Second Step, we believe you.

Thank you, Argent Wealth Management, LLC, for presenting your Financial Literacy workshop to our team today. This training has equipped our staff with essential skills to better manage their personal finances. Financial wellness reduces stress and enhances overall well-being. Supporting our staff in this way strengthens our workforce and helps us retain talented, mission-driven professionals in the domestic violence services field. We look forward to continuing to work with Argent to bring this knowledge to our clients, helping them build the skills and confidence vital to their long-term stability. 💸 #financialliteracy #learning #financialwellness

July is Disability Pride Month! The experiences of survivors of domestic violence with disabilities are not often highlighted, but people with disabilities make up a large portion of the survivor community. People with disabilities are nearly twice as likely to experience domestic violence than people without disabilities, and domestic violence can cause temporary or permanent disability. The history of Disability Pride Month can be traced back to Boston, where the first Disability Pride Day took place in 1990. This Disability Pride Month, we uplift and celebrate the disability community, and call attention to the increased violence this group faces. All people, including those with disabilities, deserve a life free from domestic violence. At The Second Step we offer accessibility services on our website and through our direct services. If you or a loved one are experiencing domestic violence, call our intake line at 617-965-2538 and an advocate will return your call.

Happy 4th of July! The Second Step offices will be closed Thursday July 4th, in observance of the holiday. While our office will be closed, hotline services remain available - for 24/7 support, call the Massachusetts Domestic Violence Hotline Safelink: (877)385-2020 or the National DV Hotline: (800)799-7233, online chat at https://www.thehotline.org, or text LOVEIS to 22522. In case of an emergency, please call 911.

We are thrilled to announce that The Second Step has been awarded a generous $50,000 grant from the Massachusetts Bar Foundation! This vital support will significantly enhance our efforts to provide critical legal services for survivors of domestic violence. We are deeply grateful to the Massachusetts Bar Foundation for their partnership and belief in our work.