Domestic Violence Training Group

10/29/2025

The 5th Annual Purple Box Project is underway💟 Read below to see how you can help survivors move forward✨

10/16/2025

💜 Today we wear purple with purpose. It’s National Wear Purple Day in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness✨💜💜💜💜Thank you, St. Mary AME Church, for standing with the Purple Box Project and saying no to silence, yes to safety.💜💜💜💜Together, we choose to be witnesses — not bystanders. ✨The Purple Box Project collects hygiene essentials, socks, toiletries and baby products (diapers, wipes, etc.) for DV survivors Contact 318-588-0084 to participate @

09/15/2025

💜If it makes you sad, lets do something about it✨🙌🏾✨
Over the past few months, we’ve all seen the headlines.
Domestic violence murders. Domestic violence attacks.
The kind that make your heart sink. The kind that make you say:
“Somebody ought to do something about that.”

Well — this is your moment. This is our moment✨

On October 3rd, we’re doing something.

I am a proud board member of Petrina's Purple Passion, Inc., an organization dedicated to empowering survivors and their families.

Petrina’s Purple Passion is hosting our 3rd Annual Domestic Violence Awareness Breakfast Fundraiser — a powerful morning honoring survivors, supporting families, and continuing the legacy of the late, legendary Petrina Jenkins, a fearless advocate for safe homes and second chances.

🎓 Proceeds go directly to scholarships for college students impacted by domestic violence — helping survivors rebuild and rise.

🗓️ Friday, October 3, 2025 | 8:30 AM
📍 Morning Star BC – ML Hunt Life Center
🎟️ Tickets: $30 | Scan the QR code on the flyer to purchase
🎤 Guest Speaker: Dr. Kimberly Pickens
💜Theme: “Breaking the Silence: Empower, Alleviate, Rise”

This is more than a breakfast.
It’s a platform.
A protest.
A promise that silence will not win.

Join us. Stand with survivors. Let’s do something — together.

09/06/2025

🔦 Let’s Talk About Enablers: How Abuse Survives in Plain Sight

Abuse doesn’t just happen behind closed doors.

It survives—and even thrives—because people around the abuser help make it possible.

These people are called enablers.
Some do it knowingly.
Others do it out of denial, fear, or misguided loyalty.
But either way, their actions have consequences.

So what does enabling look like?

🟣 Making excuses for the abuser’s behavior
🟣 Telling the victim to “forgive and forget”
🟣 Pressuring the survivor to stay “for the kids”
🟣 Blaming the victim for provoking the abuse
🟣 Helping the abuser avoid consequences—whether it’s lying, covering up, or minimizing harm
🟣 Siding with the abuser because “he’s always been good to us”
🟣 Calling the victim “dramatic,” “bitter,” or “trying to ruin his life”

Common Enablers:
• Family members
• Friends
• Co-workers
• Religious leaders
• Community “peacekeepers”
• Anyone who values comfort over accountability

➡️Enabling abuse is not neutral.
It is a form of complicity.
And it deepens the survivor’s isolation and increases the danger.

Let’s be clear:
You can love someone and still hold them accountable.
You can want healing and still demand consequences.
You can support a survivor without betraying your values.

🛑 It’s time to stop silencing survivors to protect abusers.
🛑 It’s time to break the cycle of complicity.
🛑 It’s time to stop enabling—and start intervening.

⸻

✅ We can help.

At DVTG (Domestic Violence Training Group), we equip law enforcement, investigators, prosecutors, and advocates with the skills to recognize the full ecosystem of abuse—including the role of enablers.

We deliver high-impact training rooted in justice, survivor safety, and accountability.

💻 Learn more at www.dvtrainers.com
📥 Book a training or consultation for your agency or team today.

08/28/2025

🟣𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝘿𝙀𝘼𝘿𝙇𝙔 𝙍𝙄𝙋𝙋𝙇𝙀𝙎 𝙊𝙁 𝘿𝙊𝙈𝙀𝙎𝙏𝙄𝘾 𝙑𝙄𝙊𝙇𝙀𝙉𝘾𝙀

When we think about domestic violence, we often focus ONLY on the VICTIM and the ABUSER.

But domestic violence sends out deadly ripples that touch everyone in its path.

🟣Children
• Over 15 million children in the U.S. live in homes where domestic violence has occurred at least once.
• Children who witness violence are at greater risk for anxiety, depression, PTSD, and becoming victims or perpetrators themselves. DV jeopardizes generations.

🟣Family & Friends
• 1 in 5 homicides of female victims are committed by an intimate partner and involve the deaths of family members, friends, bystanders, or first responders.
• Loved ones who try to help can become targets. Some are harmed. Some are killed simply for trying to protect.

🟣Isolation
• Abusers isolate victims from support systems. Isolation increases the risk of homicide by 4x.
• Relationships wither. Family ties are severed. Friendships die. The isolation deepens the victim’s danger.

🟣Bystanders
• DV committed in public draws intervention. Between 2011 and 2020, at least 41 bystanders were killed during domestic violence incidents in the U.S.

🟣Delayed Health Consequences
Domestic violence is a public health crisis:
• 81% of women who experience DV report long-term health problems.
• Consequences include traumatic brain injuries (TBI), heart disease, chronic pain, and addiction. Some effects are invisible for years before proving fatal.
⸻

Let’s stop seeing DV as a “private issue” and start treating it as the urgent public crisis it is. Lives depend on it.

05/29/2025

What does a bus stop shelter have to do with domestic violence? As it turns out…everything! If we’re going to reach the community in new ways as it relates to domestic violence, we’re gonna have to do new things. That’s what this morning was all about.
💜 💜 💜
Today, we stood together at the ribbon cutting for a new SporTran bus shelter dedicated to Petrina Gay-Jenkins—a fearless advocate whose life’s work was centered on protecting and empowering survivors. This shelter isn’t just a structure; it’s a statement. It’s a call to think differently about how we raise awareness and support those impacted by domestic violence.
💜 💜 💜
For too long, conversations around domestic violence have been kept behind closed doors. But real change happens when we bring those conversations into the public space—into places people pass every day. This shelter is a powerful reminder that safety and support should be visible, accessible, and embedded in the fabric of our communities.
💜 💜 💜
By naming this shelter in Petrina’s honor, we’re doing more than commemorating her legacy—we’re continuing it. We’re choosing to meet people where they are, to break silence with visibility, and to redefine what community engagement looks like.
💜 💜 💜
This is innovation. This is advocacy in action. And this is just the beginning.✨

03/01/2025

Crisis for Domestic Violence Survivors: Funding Freeze Puts Lives at Risk

The federal government has frozen funding for domestic violence and sexual assault programs. This decision threatens shelters, crisis hotlines, and legal aid. Survivors who need help may soon find doors closed.

For many organizations, federal grants are their backbone. Without them, services will shrink. Some may shut down. Shelters already at capacity will turn people away.

This is not just a budget issue. It is a matter of life and death. Survivors need safe places to go. They need advocates, attorneys, and counselors.

We cannot stay silent. We must demand action. Contact lawmakers. Speak up. Lives depend on it.

The DOJ Office on Violence Against Women removed all open funding opportunities from its website in February.

01/22/2025

How Abusers Manipulate Survivors into Denying Abuse

Abusers often use manipulation to pressure survivors into recanting allegations. These tactics can derail legal cases. Recognizing these strategies helps survivors stay firm and seek justice.

The Five Steps of Manipulation

Researchers at Ohio State University studied jailhouse calls between 17 men charged with felony domestic violence and their female partners. Each survivor later recanted. The study revealed a common pattern:
1. Heated Argument
The abuser starts a fight about the incident. Survivors stand by their account at first.
2. Minimization and Sympathy
The abuser downplays the abuse, claiming it wasn’t serious. Then, they play the victim, saying they’re depressed and lonely to gain sympathy.
3. Reaffirming Love
Both express love and focus on their bond. This builds a “us against the world” mindset.
4. Request to Drop Charges
The abuser directly asks the survivor to drop the charges or change their story.
5. Recantation
The survivor gives in and helps the abuser plan a false story for court.

How to Resist Manipulation
1. Limit Contact
Avoid communication, especially if a no-contact order is in place. Block their number and ignore unknown calls.
2. Get Support
Work with a domestic violence advocate. They can guide you, support you in court, and provide emotional help.
3. Document Violations
Record any contact or intimidation attempts. Share this with law enforcement and your prosecutor.
4. Seek Counseling
A counselor trained in domestic violence trauma can help you cope and stay strong.
5. Be Cautious About Reconciliation
Real change requires accountability and time. Don’t trust empty promises.

Stay Strong

Knowing these tactics can help survivors protect themselves. With support and strategies in place, they can stand firm and fight for justice.

01/18/2025

💜A Hidden Injury: Brain Damage in Domestic Violence Survivors💜

When we think about domestic violence, we often think of broken bones or bruises. But there’s another injury that’s harder to see: brain damage.

Survivors of abuse often endure repeated blows to the head or strangulation. These can cause lasting trauma to the brain. For many, the effects go unnoticed or untreated for years.

What brain injuries can cause:
👉 Memory loss
👉 Trouble concentrating
👉 Mood swings
👉 Chronic headaches
👉 Difficulty sleeping

These symptoms can make it even harder for survivors to rebuild their lives. But there’s hope.

Programs are stepping in to help.
Across the country, experts are working to treat brain injuries in survivors of domestic violence. They are providing the care survivors need to heal and reclaim their futures.

Check out this powerful news video to learn more about how survivors are getting the help they deserve:
Watch here👉(https://www.nbcnews.com/now/video/domestic-violence-survivors-receive-treatment-for-brain-injuries-226695237544)

Here’s how we can all help:
1. Raise awareness. Many people don’t know about this hidden injury. Share this post to spread the word.
2. Advocate for better care. Survivors deserve access to medical and emotional support.
3. Support survivors. Listen without judgment and connect them to resources.

Domestic violence leaves scars—some seen, some unseen. But with awareness and support, we can help survivors heal from all forms of harm.

💡 Need help? Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or visit the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence at https://nrcdv.org/

Every survivor deserves a chance to heal, inside and out. Let’s make that possible.

The Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute at West Virginia University is working to treat domestic violence survivors for any brain injuries. NBC News’ Kate Snow spoke with a survivor who is receiving treatment.

01/13/2025

Why Some Survivors Minimize Their Abuse

Many survivors of domestic violence struggle to name what they’ve endured. They downplay their abuse or even blame themselves. But why does this happen?

Here are a few reasons survivors may minimize their abuse:
1. Self-blame: Abusers often convince survivors the abuse is their fault.
2. Denial: Facing the full truth can feel overwhelming and painful.
3. Fear: Survivors may fear retaliation or judgment if they speak up.
4. Normalizing abuse: Some survivors grow up in abusive homes and believe this is “normal.”
5. Love and hope: Survivors may love their abuser and hope things will change.

It’s important to understand these reasons without judgment. Survivors often focus on survival, doing what they can to protect themselves and their children.

If this sounds like you or someone you know, you’re not alone.
Here’s what you can do:
📌Learn the signs of abuse. Abuse isn’t just physical—it can be emotional, verbal, or financial.
📌Reach out for help. There are shelters, hotlines, and advocates ready to listen and support you.
📌Believe survivors. If someone shares their story, listen without judgment.

Minimizing abuse doesn’t erase the pain—it only hides it. Recognizing abuse is the first step to breaking free.

You deserve safety. You deserve peace. You deserve to heal.

💡Resources are available:
Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or visit domesticshelters.org at www.domesticshelters.org to find support near you.

Let’s support survivors and create a world where abuse is never minimized or ignored.

Make finding domestic violence help easier. Info on 3,000 shelters, agencies, hotlines. Physical abuse, emotional abuse, psychological abuse or verbal abuse, this free service can help.