Highland Park United Methodist Church

Violence Intervention and Prevention

1 in 4 women will be a victim of family violence in her lifetime.
1 in 3 teens will experience violence in a dating relationship.
50% of men who abuse their wives also abuse their children.
Every 12 seconds a woman is battered in the United States.

APRIL 18 IS A MORNING THAT COULD CHANGE DALLAS. FIND OUT HOW.

Click here to view Mayor Tom Leppert's remarks

Click here to view Dallas Police Department Deputy Chief Brigitte Gassaway's remarks

Click here to view Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins' remarks

Click here to view WFAA Anchor Gloria Campos' remarks

Click here to view Dallas ISD Superintendent Michael Hinojosa's remarks

Click here to view Parkland Hospital CEO Dr. Ron Anderson's remarks

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

VIP Ministry
Through the Violence Intervention & Prevention (VIP) Ministry, Highland Park United Methodist will be a church leader in proactively addressing the needs of family violence victims. We will serve as a catalyst to reduce the incidences of violence and abuse and help to break the cycle of family violence in our church and our communities.

Family violence can be physical, sexual and/or psychological attacks. It can take the form of isolation and economic coercion intended to control another person. The victim or the abuser may be a parent, child, spouse, sibling, elderly parent or former/current partner.

By educating our congregation on family violence and abuse, we hope to:

Create an atmosphere of openness and support for victims;
Serve as a conduit for directing anyone in the church to receive help; and
Be known as a “safe church” for anyone who needs help.

The VIP Ministry offers staff training and education, ongoing awareness and education programs, resource referral services, spiritual support and guidance and legal counseling and support services. Our goal is to educate victims on the options available to them and to provide support and guidance as they seek a life free of violence and abuse.

Domestic and family violence has reached epidemic proportions in our country and our communities. Texas leads the nation in deaths as a result of domestic violence and no group is immune to its devastating effects. As a congregation, we represent a strong voice in the community. While we alone cannot eliminate family violence, we can work together to make a difference.

If you or someone you know is in an abusive or threatening situation, call the VIP Ministry at 214.523.2123.

Quiz: How is your relationship?
Does your partner…

Embarrass you with bad names and put-downs?
Look at you or act in ways that scare you?
Control what you do, whom you see or talk to or where you go?
Stop you from seeing or talking to friends or family?
Take your money or Social Security, make you ask for money, or refuse to give you money?
Make all the decisions?
Keep you from getting medical help when you are sick or injured?
Force you to have sex against your will?
Tell you you’re a bad parent or threaten to take away or hurt your children?
Act like the abuse is not a big deal, it’s your fault or even deny doing it?
Destroy your property or threaten to kill your pets?
Intimidate you with guns, knives or other weapons?
Push, shove, slap, kick, strangle or hit you?
Verbally attack or accuse you?
Force you to drop charges?
Threaten to commit suicide?
Threaten to kill you?

See more information on the signs that are warning you to get out.

* If you’ve answered yes to ANY of these questions, call the VIP Ministry at 214.523.2123, contact a local family violence prevention resource, or call 1.800.799.SAFE (7233).

Helping a Friend
Sometimes a victim’s self-esteem is so damaged by the abuse that she thinks she can’t make it on her own. In many cases, a victim fears for her life. She may want her children to grow up with both parents or feel guilty believing that the abuse is her fault. Or, she may just want the violence to end, not the relationship. Whatever the reason, she needs your support and you can help her by doing the following:

Listen without judging. She may feel responsible, ashamed, inadequate and afraid.
Tell her that it is NOT her fault.
Make sure she knows she is not alone.
Explain that relationship abuse is a crime. She can seek protection from the police, courts and domestic violence programs and shelters.
Encourage her to keep a log or diary of the abuse.
Suggest she develop a safety plan for herself and her children.
Think of ways you can help. If she decides to leave, she may need money, assistance finding a place to live, a place to store her belongings or help finding a safe home for her pets.
Keep yourself safe.

What You Can Do to Help Protect Yourself and Your Children

Call 911 if you are in danger or need help.
If you are injured, go to a hospital, emergency room or doctor and report what happened to you. Ask that they take photos and document your visit in writing.
Know where you can go for help and tell someone what is happening to you. Have the phone numbers of friends, relatives and domestic violence programs with you.
Plan with your children to identify a safe place for them: a room with a lock or a neighbor’s house where they can go for help. Reassure them their job is to stay safe, not to protect you.
Arrange a signal with a trustworthy neighbor (for example, if the porch light is on during the day, call the police).
Keep any evidence of physical abuse (ripped clothes, photos of bruises and injuries, etc.).
Have a packed bag ready at a friend or relative’s house that includes money, a set of keys, copies of important documents, extra clothes and medicines.
Plan the safest time to get away.
Contact the VIP Ministry to find out about laws and other resources available to help you before you have to use them.

Helpful Phone Numbers
If someone you love is hurting you and you need help, please call one of the numbers listed below:

Police/Fire/Ambulance+* 911
Domestic Violence 24-Hour Hotline* 800.799.SAFE (7233)
HPUMC Violence Intervention & Prevention Ministry* (214.523.2123
Dallas Police Department Family Violence Unit* (214.670.7075
Child & Adult Abuse 24-Hour Hotline* 800.252.5400
Family Place Outreach+* 214.941.1991
Genesis Women’s Outreach+* 214.559.2050
Family Violence Legal Line* 800.374.HOPE (4673)

+ Bilingual
* Answered 24 hours/day

If you’d like more information or want to get involved in the VIP Ministry, contact 214.523.2123.