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LGBTQ+ Resources

Quick Tips

The State of Delaware Child Death Review Commission’s 2017 Annual Report identified domestic violence, lack of referral for DV, and lack of DV screening as major contributing factors to maternal deaths.  Additionally, the Delaware Fetal and Infant Mortality Review for FY 2007-2012 shows one of the resulting recommendations is ‘consistent and ongoing domestic violence screening.’

Studies indicate that only 5-10% of primary care settings and 17% of ob/gyns regularly ask about intimate partner violence. One study revealed that less than 25% of women receiving medical services for any reason were asked about physical, sexual and emotional violence by Emergency Department staff. Emergency Departments are significantly more likely to screen for domestic violence when injuries or obvious signs are present, however, with rates jumping to closer to 80%.

For many victims of domestic violence the first source of help will not be law enforcement, but rather their medical provider. Below are some quick tips for health care providers to promote safe and healthy relationships with all patients, as well as to connect patients experiencing domestic violence to a community-based resource.

DCADV offers resources to support health care providers in recognizing and responding to domestic violence:

Training and Technical Assistance

Resource Materials

  •     Best practice wallet/badge cards for providers
  •     DV resource card for patients
  •     Evidence-Based screening tools with local resource numbers
  •     Posters

If you need resources, please send an email to dcadvadmin@dcadv.org.

Domestic Violence Providers

Offer health services and resources:

            Reproductive health resources

            Rapid HIV testing

            Wellness classes

            Healthy food options

            Access to health coverage and care

Include a health assessment as part of the intake process

            Reproductive coercion

            Mental health coercion

            Substance use coercion

            Health care coverage, primary medical home

            Current injuries or medical conditions

Offer health resources geared toward a diverse population (language, LGBTQ, BIPOC)

Support staff’s health and wellness

Our Member Organizations

  • Alert! Computer use can be monitored.

    Computer Safety

    WARNING!

    If you are being stalked or abused, take steps to keep your abuser from knowing you are looking for help. Please use a safer computer, or call 911, one of Delaware's local hotlines at 302-762-6110 for New Castle County or 302-422-8058 for Kent & Sussex Counties , or the U.S. National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 and TTY 1-800-787-3224.

    EMERGENCY "QUICK ESCAPE" BUTTON

    There is a red Quick Escape button in the lower right-hand corner of every page on this website.
    Click this button if your abuser enters the room while you are viewing this website. It will close this website and redirect your browser to a neutral page.

    Clean up Your Online Path

    Internet Safety

    Everything you do online is recorded. It is IMPOSSIBLE to clear your tracks completely. Your computer stores hundreds of bits of information about everything you do with your computer, including information about which websites you've visited, your passwords, and what your emails say. An abuser can easily track the websites you visit or read your email messages.

    If you suspect your activities are being monitored, they probably are. Abusers are often controlling and want to know your every move. You don’t need to be a computer programmer or have special skills to monitor someone’s computer activities – anyone can do it and there are many ways to monitor your activities - even without having direct access to your computer. Using a separate computer is best, but you can protect yourself at home by familiarizing yourself with processes like private browsing, deleting your browser history, clearing your cache and deleting cookies.

    You can be tracked

    Your abuser can track your online actions – there is nothing you can do to remove your tracks completely. If you try to erase your tracks, your abuser might become suspicious.
    If you think you might be in danger, use a computer at a public library, internet cafe or a trusted friend’s house. If your abuser sends you email, do not open it on those computers.

    If you need help now, call 911 or the
    New Castle County Domestic Violence Hotline: 302-762-6110
    Kent & Sussex County Domestic Violence Hotline: 302-422-8058
    Kent & Sussex County Bi-lingual Domestic Violence Hotline: 302-745-9874
    US National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-7233
    US National Sexual Assault Hotline 1-800-656-4673
    US National Teen Dating Violence Helpline 1-866-331-9474

    Email Safety

    Email is not a safe or confidential way to communicate.

    Sending email is like sending a postcard through the mail. Anyone along the path can read what it says. If you need to talk to someone about the danger or abuse in your life, if possible, please call a hotline instead.

    If you must use email to discuss your situation we suggest you use an account that your abuser doesn't know about. Set up a new account with a free email service like hotmail, yahoo, or gmail.

    Password Safety

    Be smart about passwords to keep your abuser out of your accounts.

    DO NOT use a name or password that contains any identifying information (no names, nicknames, initials, birthdates, zipcodes, etc.) Instead use a name and password that contains a random mix of letters, CAPITAL letters and numbers (for example, HJ3v67Tn) -

    Make sure you can remember the user name and password. If you must write it down somewhere, put it in a place your abuser is unlikely to find it.

    If the computer asks if you would like it to save your password or login information tell it NO.

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