Over the past month, shock waves have rippled across the entertainment and political landscape as story after story has surfaced of powerful men abusing women, children and men. More women and men than ever before are speaking out about the sexual violence that they suffered at the hands of Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey, members of Congress and others. This has been an important moment in history, and one that we hope will create lasting change in our society. Yet one topi

To many in our community, October is a month for visiting pumpkin patches and apple orchards, viewing the gorgeous changing leaves, and preparing for Halloween. But for those of us whose lives have been affected by domestic violence, October has a different meaning: a time to raise awareness for domestic violence. This month, we observe Domestic Violence Awareness Month and we ask you to participate to help us reach our goals of raising awareness and ultimately ending the

At Blackburn Center, we are always looking for innovative ways to raise awareness and educate the community about domestic and sexual violence. That’s why we jumped at the opportunity to participate in the Purple Purse Challenge this October — which also happens to be National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. This is the first time Blackburn Center has competed in the Challenge, which raised nearly $3.1 million in 2015 for 161 domestic violence organizations throughout th

If you’re on social media, chances are you’ve seen it: a picture of a hand with a black dot inked right in the center of the palm. The accompanying message informs you that the black dot is a “secret message” to professionals that the person is being abused. It seems like a fantastic campaign — it claims to raise awareness and help people in abusive relationships. And yet…it isn’t actually beneficial, and may in fact harm the people it intends to help. The problems with t

This originally was published in the Harrisburg Patriot-News on September 9, 2015. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It was a tragedy that shocks the conscience and rattles a community's sense of security and serenity. Shortly before noon on Labor Day, just outside a popular Mount Gretna ice cream parlor, Patrick Derr, 47, of Richland, fatally shot h

Last week, we highlighted the prevalence of dating violence among teenagers — and now, we’d like to talk about a problem that affects a different generation: the elderly. Elder abuse is a serious issue in this country, affecting some of our most vulnerable citizens. Each year, between 1.6 and 2 million seniors become victims of abuse and neglect. With our rapidly aging population, elder abuse is poised to become an even bigger problem — and one we must address head-on if

Every year, roughly 1 in 10 American teenagers experiences physical abuse at the hands of a dating partner. This sort of dating violence can lead to long-term effects, leaving survivors at increased risk of depression, substance abuse, suicidal thoughts, poor academic performance, and future violence. Although February is officially Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, abuse between teenagers in relationships is a form of domestic violence — and it is just as important that

This month, we are exploring various issues surrounding domestic violence as part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Today, we are tackling some basic facts about domestic violence. Share the correct information with people you know! FACT: Domestic violence is a huge problem; it is estimated that 1 in 4 women will be affected by domestic violence in her lifetime, and that 75% of Americans know someone who has experienced domestic violence. Men are also directly impacted