Saskatchewan Federation of Police Officers 59 What YOU can do Find out more about the issue of family violence, the different forms of abuse, and the warning signs that somebody is a victim of abuse. Find out about the services and supports in your area such as the transition house, family violence outreach, health and mental health services, legal services, and so on. Your ability to give support may depend on your knowledge. Ask her about abuse in private. Don’t ask about abuse in front of others, especially a partner or children. Reach out and let her know you are willing to listen to her. Offer what help you feel comfortable giving. Never be judgmental. If you think a child is being mistreated, you have a legal duty to report it to child protection at 1-888-992-2873 (A B U S E) or emergency after hours 1-800-442-9799. Ask her what she needs to be safe. Give her the transition house telephone number so she can call (anonymously if she wishes to) for support. Her immediate safety is the most important concern. Ask if there are firearms in the home and if she knows where they are kept. Ask her if she is concerned about the welfare of her pets/animals. If you are not in a position to provide support, know where the victim can turn for help. Do not get discouraged if she leaves and returns to the abuser. No matter what the woman decides to do - or not do - about the abuse, it is important to continue to be supportive. HERE ARE SOME WAYS THAT YOU CAN HELP SOMEONE WHO IS BEING ABUSED What YOU can say Name the abuse that is happening. Do not make excuses for the partner’s behaviour, blame her or make it seem like a normal experience. Offer to help her explore her options and provide information and contact numbers for services and supports for the entire family. Let her know you believe her and make it clear that no one deserves to be abused – It’s not her fault! Where possible, tell her that you can help with such things as transportation, babysitting, giving her some money, letting her make phone calls or use your computer, offering her a place to stay, and so on. Tell her that children exposed to family violence may be considered victims of child abuse. Explain that anyone who suspects a child is living in an abusive home has an obligation to report it to child protection. Encourage her to make a safety plan and to contact agencies that can help her. If she feels she is in immediate danger, tell her she can use your phone to call the police (911) or the nearest women’s shelter – or you can call for her. Tell her that she is at increased risk of harm and that she should consider telling the police about the firearms. Mention that there is a toll-free number she can call to report her concerns about a firearm - Canadian Firearms Program - 1-800-731-4000. If she cannot take her pet with her and is concerned it may be harmed, offer to look after it for a while. Tell her there is a new province wide service that temporarily shelters the pets of women leaving abuse. To participate, she can contact the nearest transition house or domestic violence outreach office. For more information about this service, contact [email protected]. Tell her about others who can help her – a community service provider in the area of health, social service, law enforcement, and education or justice services. Remember, he may be looking for help too and may need services and programs to help him end the violence. Tell her that you believe in her strengths and that you are willing to help whenever she needs you. legalinfonb.ca/
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