Domestic abuse is an 'equal opportunity employer'
CarlLa Horton, the Executive Director of Hope's Door in Westchester County, NY, was interviewed by Future Choices in early 2011. The resultant video, “Hope’s Door: Breaking the Cycle of Domestic Violence,” provides not only an excellent picture of what constitutes domestic abuse, how widespread it is, how to recognize warning signs, how to help friends or family members who might be victims of abuse by their partner.
The thing about domestic violence, CarlLa Horton says, is that it transcends all barriers. It is an "equal opportunity employer" in that it does not matter what job you have, your socioeconomic level, your educational level, your religion or lack thereof. Domestic abuse crosses all those boundaries, she asserts.
Hope's Door, formerly The Northern Westchester Shelter, offers a wide array of free and confidential services for victims of domestic violence, including:
- a 24-hour hotline for emergency assistance (888) 438-8700
- A 16-bed shelter residence
- Safety planning
- Counseling for women, men, teens and children
- Support groups for women, teens and children
- Legal assistance
- Teen dating abuse prevention program
- Community education program
- Children's Program
- "Love Shouldn't Hurt" -- a Teen Education Program
- Community Education and Outreach
- Workplace Violence Program
For details about all these programs, please go to the very helpful website for Hope's Door.
When is Future Choices aired in your community?
See Local TV schedule for time and channel in each participating community in Westchester County.
Behind Closed Doors
An energetic and talented volunteer, Dr. Peggy Schweitzer, put together an eye-opening video, "Behind Closed Doors," which graphically describes the display of domestic abuse and the services which Hope's Door offers to victims.
Avon
The Avon Foundation for Women offers a number of excellent resources for victims of domestic violence and dating abuse. For instance, you will want to watch their five-minute film, "Speak Out Against Domestic Violence."
Their Resource Guide is replete with useful information.
The Foundation's generosity has enabled Hope's Door to extend the reach of their services for victims of domestic violence and to advocate for its elimination.
Students Terminating Abusive Relationships
STAR is a peer leadership program run by Hope's Door for high school students in Westchester County. Members attend monthly meetings to learn more about dating abuse--as well as healthy relationships--and how to plan and implement awareness activities in their schools and in their communities.
About CarlLa Horton
CarlLa Horton was appointed executive director of Hope’s Door (formerly the Northern Westchester Shelter) in 1997, three years after receiving her graduate degree from the School of Business and Public Administration at Bernard Baruch College where she graduated first in her executive MPA class. During her tenure with Hope’s Door, |MORE
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