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May 22, 2024
What defines a healthy relationship, and who determines its healthiness? Both partners play a crucial role. In healthy relationships, individuals feel supported and connected while maintaining their independence. Communication and boundaries are fundamental components. Effective communication fosters understanding and conflict resolution. In healthy relationships, partners treat each other with respect, openly express thoughts and feelings, […]
May 22, 2024
Supporting a family member or friend who is experiencing abuse can be challenging, but your presence and understanding can make a world of difference. Here are some ways you can help: Acknowledge Their Struggle: Recognize the difficulty and fear they may be facing. Let them know they are not alone and that help is available […]
May 22, 2024
“Gotcha!!” The outburst came from somewhere in the back of the room, followed by hushed protests. It was reading hour and the kids should have been silently reading their books (or at least pretending to). Jennifer didn’t have to lift her eyes from her own book to know who the culprit was. Leslie. It was […]
May 22, 2024
I work at the Iowa Victim Service Call Center. “So… a call center?” I’ve heard this from friends, family, and people in general when I tell them about what I do. I can hear the tone in their voice – as if working in a call center automatically devalues my job. I won’t lie, I […]
May 22, 2024
I’m sure it’s no coincidence that a new limited series, “Maid,” debuted on Netflix on October 1st, the first day of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The story is inspired by a real survivor’s experience, although names and details are changed, characters are added, etc. The story follows Alex, a single mom who left her emotionally […]
May 22, 2024
“You Are Not Alone.” This is a phrase that shows up often in our social media posts, on our website, in our other blogs posts, in presentations we give, and during our calls. So when I saw that same phrase as the amplified message for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) this month for […]
May 22, 2024
Late one night this past July, I turned on the documentary “Athlete A” on Netflix. I’d heard it was good, and being 3 months into the pandemic, I had watched almost everything else Netflix had to offer. I had no idea the impact that watching it would have on me or the months of my […]
May 22, 2024
We’re pretty good at safety in the US. We teach our kids to look both ways before crossing the road. We tell them not to talk to or take candy from a stranger. We lock our homes and cars, put up cameras, and install alarm systems. As an added layer of security, some of us […]
May 22, 2024
If you’ve ever seen the movie “Taken,” your view of human trafficking might be warped like mine was. Girls kidnapped and kept in cages. In foreign countries. Never seeing the light of day. While all this made for a thrilling, Liam Neeson film, it doesn’t match reality. Those things can be true of trafficking victims, […]
May 22, 2024
The first few weekends of college can really make or break your entire college experience. Your residence hall staff will probably tell you that the best time to get out and make new friends in college is in the first few weeks. That window is when everyone else is looking for new friends too. Some […]