The Family Safety Center ultimately strives to reduce and prevent incidents of domestic violence in Memphis and Shelby County while strengthening families in our community through outreach, awareness and education programs designed and implemented by our staff and partners.
Domestic violence is a complicated crime. It happens behind closed doors in the privacy of intimate relationships, and is a crime that crosses all socioeconomic boundaries. Victims often have suffered years of abuse in silence, too embarrassed to reach out for help, unsure of where to go and scared to step out against their abusers. Additionally, domestic violence is often thought to be a private matter, and friends, co-workers and family members typically don't know how to help someone who they believe to be involved in a violent home situation.
Education and awareness about domestic violence is key to empowering victims – and the family, friends and acquaintances of victims – to recognize the warning signs, realize the danger, report the crime and reach out for help. Family Safety Center provides assistance in safety planning to ensure that victims have a plan before leaving a violent relationship.
Family Safety Center also provides domestic violence training to churches, employers, apartment managers, social workers and health care professionals to teach them how to identify victims of domestic violence and what steps to take to help the victim.
If your church is interested in hosting a Speak Out Sunday event, our staff can work with you to create programming for your congregation. We can assist with anything from a bulletin announcement to a special service dedicated to the church's response to domestic violence.
For more information about Family Safety Center's domestic violence awareness, education and training programs, contact the Community Outreach Specialist, Mia Harvey, by email at Mia@familysafetycenter.com or call Family Safety Center at 901-222-4400.
The danger level of a relationship can be difficult to assess. The My Plan App helps women and their friends to determine if a relationship is unsafe and create an action plan to leave safely.
My Safety Net immediately turns every Smartphone into a personal security device that collects all incident-driven data and information. Download the app for iPhone here. Download the app for Android here.
Research indicates that financial abuse is present in as many as 98% of abusive relationships. This is because financial control allows abusers to have substantial power over the victim. This online module will help you understand financial abuse, as well as begin better understanding financial planning and budgeting as you break the cycle of violence.
Stalking victims can take an active role to increase their own safety and document stalking incidents. Stalking sacks are actual bags of resources, you are put together with tools to help increase you safety and document the crime.