Sue Ryan, Executive Director, and Nick Beard, Advocacy Coordinator, of the Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence discussed their work in training, research and advocacy for their members, direct service providers to victims of domestic abuse.

We first spoke of prevention, Sue explains it as possible and it begins by addressing gender bias, racism and sexism in our culture and by teaching teens what to expect in a relationship; respect counters abuse.

Today’s discussion centered more on financial and emotional abuse; many victims don’t realize that this is abuse. A partner who controls all of the money, the car, the financial documents, the passwords is an abuser.
We talked about how these financial abuses keep victims trapped and the help offered by their partner agencies, from planning an escape to emergency situations where a victim has nothing but their clothes. We discussed pending Delaware legislation that would add ‘Protection from Economic Abuse’ to the state’s Protection from Abuse statute to bring it in line with the federal description, and a bill that would add the ‘Right to Representation’ in eviction cases.

There are services and resources available for victims of domestic violence 24/7.

Delaware DV Hotline Numbers: 24 Hour Domestic Violence Hotlines

CHILD Inc.’s Domestic Violence Program
New Castle County 302-762-6110

The SAFE Program at People’s Place II
Kent & Sussex Counties  302-422-8058

Abriendo Puertas Bilingual Hotline
Sussex County   302-745-9874

Visit the Coalition’s website to learn more about their programming at dcadv.org