Domestic violence and sexual assault are things that we Americans generally aren't comfortable talking about in public or even with our friends and families. We tend to want to deny that these problems exist and those that experience these horrible things as adults or children typically want to keep it a secret. But, this simply puts more power in the hands of abusers. You can help decrease abuse in your community by speaking out and getting involved in promoting awareness and prevention.

Ways you can help prevent domestic violence and sexual assault in your community:

• Educate yourself on domestic abuse topics and then educate clergy, school teachers, coworkers, public officials, etc., with whom you have contact.
• If you have experienced abuse or witnessed it as a child, offer to tell your story at churches, schools, or other community groups like the Lions Club, the Rotary Club, or women's groups.
• Encourage others to talk openly about it, such as teachers to their students and clergy to their congregations.
• Advocate for domestic and dating violence education and prevention programs in your public school system.
• Get posters and other awareness materials online from the Family Violence Prevention Fund's website at http://store.yahoo.com/fvpfstore/pubed.html and place these anywhere you can throughout your community.
• Help establish a fund for victims at your local family shelter or through your church or another oganization.
• Make sure that your place of employment has procedures for keeping domestic violence victims safe at work.
• Be willing to talk to victims and/or their children.
• Support your local family violence shelter through donations or volunteer activities.
• Call 911 if you hear or see an incident of relationship violence happening.
• If you suspect someone you know is in an abusive relationship, watch for warning signs and even ask them about it directly.
• Attend or help organize public rallies to promote awareness and prevention of relationship abuse or hold a candlelight vigil for victims.
• Support local police, court officials, and policy makers who strongly support domestic violence prevention and victim assistance programs.