Domestic violence is an escalating problem throughout America . Over the past twenty years, there have been dramatic increases in the reported occurrences of domestic violence incidents across the nation. Professional estimates indicate that three to four million American women are victimized by domestic violence every year. Domestic violence affects all socio-economic, ethnic, racial, age, national origin, sexual orientation, and religious groups.i Domestic violence has a negative impact on individuals and families, as well as the economy and society in general. It is reasonable to assume that the domestic violence crisis is more widespread than estimated though, since most domestic violence victims do not report offenses. The women, who do manage to find assistance, arrive at shelters with few resources other than the clothes on their backs. Some are crippled with debt – their own or their partner's. Others tumble into debt after they have left violent situations, because they overspend on impulse or budget improperly. Few address the emotional and psychological issues resulting from their poor financial choices. Rarely is a survivor of domestic violence accustomed to managing her own money. This is where organizations like Turning The Corner play such a vital role in helping to end the recurrence of domestic violence.

Approximately 85% of the women who leave domestic violence relationships return to them. All too often people assume that women stay in or return to domestic violence relationships because they suffer from low self-esteem. However, the reasons women stay or return is far more complex than the weakness of their character. A significant portion of the women who return to domestic violence relationships attribute their inabilities to handle their finances as the major contributing factor ii which is often underscored by the fact that the abuser maintains control over economic and social resources. iii Turning The Corner trains women survivors of domestic violence to better handle their finances.

Many institutions support the victims of domestic violence, but few serve to stop the violence or support women in assuming independence or taking action to protect themselves and their children. For example: iv

• Clergy and secular counselors are trained only to work toward “saving” the marriage at all costs.
• Police are reluctant to become involved in domestic violence incidents and often dissuade women from filing charges. When police do become involved they generally treat these situations as domestic “disputes” rather than the domestic violence crimes that they are.
• Prosecutors are reluctant to prosecute domestic violence cases and judges rarely levy maximum sentences on convicted abusers. Probation, fines and restraining orders are much more common.
• While restraining orders are designed to create protective barriers between victims of domestic violence and their abusers, these orders do little to prevent the abusers from returning and continually assaulting their victims. Often, restraining orders further inflame abusers making matters worse and resulting in escalated levels of domestic violence.
• Despite the increased availability of housing for women fleeing their violent partners, there are still not enough shelters to protect the millions of women and children escaping these domestic violent situations each year.
  

Hundreds of millions of dollars are spent annually on legal, health and welfare services as a result of domestic violence (Danis, 2003). The cost to American communities, frightened women and children, healthcare, counseling and welfare services are monumental. Clearly, it is imperative that domestic violence becomes a matter of focused public concern. Unfortunately, many people view domestic violence as a private matter in which “outsiders” should not interfere. It is not easy for Americans to accept that our homes and families may be the setting for dangerous and life-threatening violence. Learning the truths and myths associated with domestic violence, the effect it has on children, how the judicial system addresses it, and how social workers approach the problem can aid society and professionals in finding solutions to the widespread crisis of domestic violence.

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Or contact Nancy Salamone at Turning The Corner

About Nancy Salamone
Nancy Salamone is founder of N.A.S. Associates, Inc. a financial services organization that delivers financial management solutions for mid-size and large companies and individual clients. N.A..S. Associates has a unique specialty-women’s financial issues, particularly the fears that most women harbor about their ability to handle their personal finances.

Ms. Salamone's previous corporate career includes twenty years at major New York City insurance and financial companies. She rose to the rank of vice president of marketing. She managed corporate budgets in excess of $20 million. But for most of her life, whenever she had to balance her own checkbook, she froze, terrorized. Although she was her household's wage earner, she turned over her entire paycheck to her husband, who retained tight control over all family finances. Although she regularly advised huge corporations how, why, and when to spend their money, she could not imagine how she could manage her money on her own.

Finally, in late 1991, Ms. Salamone found the courage to leave her abusive husband and to "turn the corner" - to face her fears of money and to take responsibility for her own finances. Today, Ms. Salamone is a Chartered Life Underwriter and a lecturer at the Center for Financial Studies in New York and at New York University. She has served on the board of directors of the Society of Financial Service Professionals. She has learned to balance her checkbook, and is committed to using what she knows to help other women overcome their fears of managing their money.

Nancy is the Founder and CEO of Turning The Corner and the developer of Turning The Corner's landmark national program " The Business of Me ". The Business of Me program is designed to help women achieve personal financial health and independence, putting them in control of their own money. To support the work of Turning The Corner you can click this link: help us help end domestic violence or contact Nancy Salamone at Turning The Corner . Thank you for your support. It is essential to Turning The Corner and makes our work possible.

Learn more about The Business of Me .

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