CCSF Newsletter January 2022

How much violence is directed against women! Enough! To hurt a woman is to insult God, who from a woman took on our humanity.
Pope Francis

Dear Friends,

On our birthday month, we want to thank you all for the longevity of CCSF. Our heart is to encourage the army of helpers, advocates and supporters in this very important fight for the future of families and individuals. There are many aspects to abusive relationships. We are committed to bringing you up-to-date articles and information to help serve in our various capacities.

This month’s e-newsletter includes:

Happy Birthday to Us!

Step by Step

Criminalized Survivor

January is National Stalking Awareness Month

FaithTrust Institute 2022 Calendar

With prayers for a healthy new year for us all!

Stop the Abuse, Heal the Family, Change the Future

Email: ccsf.hope@gmail.com

Website: https://www.ccsfhope.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChristianCoalitionforSafeFamilies

Christian Coalition for Safe Families January 2022

Happy Birthday to Us!

Formed in January, 2011, we reach out to advocates, therapists, professionals in the criminal justice system, survivors of violence, pastors, and interested parties who are committed to the goal of raising awareness about domestic abuse. Through this coalition, we network to share resources with those who work with individuals and families who are experiencing or have experienced abuse.

CCSF’s positions are based on our belief in the Bible and that scripture is inspired by God, truth-filled, and relevant for today. We know that God hates violence against all people. Our bodies are temples wherein HE dwells. Misunderstanding of scripture and personal biases can bring additional hurt to those being abused. CCSF hopes to bridge gaps that exist in understanding domestic violence.

The working definition of domestic abuse is a deliberate, intentional pattern designed to gain and maintain power and control over another individual in an intimate relationship. When the abuser feels that he/she can no longer control the other person in the same manner, the intensity of abuse frequently escalates. Children intuitively are aware of the abuse in a relationship, whether they see it or not. Any kind of abuse is soul-damaging and creates its own legacy. Also called intimate partner violence or relationship abuse include family violence as part of the definition to include abuse of the elderly.

Step by Step

Do you know about Step by Step? Their mission is to transform the lives of at-risk pregnant women so the women will deliver healthy babies, embrace positive parenting, and establish safe homes and secure futures. Their holistic program is relationship-based and participant-driven. They offer professional in-home counseling and education, with wrap around programs and services that holistically address the unique challenges of at-risk mothers and their families.

These programs increase prenatal and infant health, lower infant and maternal mortality rates, break cycles of poverty and abuse, decrease dependence on social systems, and build stronger and safer communities.

Step by Step is based in Puyallup and serves Pierce, King, and Snohomish counties. For more information, please call 253-896-0903.

Criminalized Survivor

By Lani K.

Recently the term criminalized survivor has been written about. Is this term in effect, the same as victim defendant? What is the difference between the two, criminalized survivor and victim defendant?

King County Cultivating Connections, Department of Community & Human Services states, “As many as 94% of incarcerated adult women have experienced abuse prior to being in prison, and 84% of girls in juvenile detention have experienced abuse. Actions survivors of abuse take to survive and defend themselves often lead to criminalization.”

WXPR Public Radio gives us several examples of criminalized survivors. A criminalized survivor could be someone with a history of incarceration. In many cases this the prevents them being seen as a victim. In some instances, police will respond to a domestic violence call and see the scratches on the aggressor that the victim inflicted when defending themselves rather than the bruises the aggressor made because bruises are slower to form. It can also be when police respond to a call and find drugs on the victim.

Over the years, there has been very little information about victim defendants. However, the attorneys at Milios Defense describe it as, “The victim defendant is usually acting in self-defense, as a means of preempting anticipated violence, in retaliation for past abuse, or is wrongfully accused of violence by her batterer as a further demonstration of power and control.”

The most important aspect of the issue according to King County Connections, is that no matter how the victim/survivor is referred to, criminalization leads to only survivors seen as “good victims.” A good victim is often described as one who willingly accesses and cooperates with the criminal legal system in order to prosecute their abuser. Good victims receive support, while those already labeled criminalized survivors are not recognized as needing support and advocacy.

Criminalized survivors can face hostility from police and the criminal justice system. Their experience of domestic violence is often diminished, with the person being viewed as a criminal who should be punished instead of a survivor who should be supported.

January is National Stalking Awareness Month

Stalking is a pattern of behavior that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear or substantial emotional distress. For more information about this terrifying, dangerous behavior, see SPARC – Stalking Prevention Awareness & Resource Center.

FaithTrust Institute 2022 Calendar

The FaithTrust Institute calendar for 2022 online classes is posted on their website.

From their About page: FaithTrust Institute is a national, multifaith, multicultural training and education organization with global reach working to end sexual and domestic violence.

Founded in 1977 by the Rev. Dr. Marie M. Fortune (retired, 2016), FaithTrust Institute offers a wide range of services and resources, including training, consulting and educational materials. We provide communities and advocates with the tools and knowledge they need to address the religious and cultural issues related to abuse. We work with many communities, including Asian and Pacific Islander, Buddhist, Jewish, Latino/a, Muslim, Black, Anglo, Indigenous, Protestant and Roman Catholic.