I received an e-mail this morning from Jan Brown, the director of the Domestic Abuse Helpline for Men and Women. They specialize in helping male victims of domestic violence, but they will help any victim of domestic violence. You can access their website here.

Here is what they're about, from their home page:

"The Domestic Abuse Helpline for Men and Women (DAHMW) was founded in October 2000. Since that time we have had thousands of calls come into the helpline from Maine and around the country. We are a unique organization in that we specialize in offering support and services to male victims of spousal and intimate partner violence. Though we specialize in this area, our support and services are not limited to helping abused men. We also receive calls from female victims in heterosexual and same-sex relationships and offer them the same support.

We do not support an agenda that seeks to minimize men's violence against women in order to expose women's violence against men. We collaborate with a number of the established women's domestic violence shelters in the country that also understand that the human capacity for family violence is not limited or dictated by gender. DAHMW offers support and practical services to victims, to the best of our ability given our limited financial resources."

Jan Brown, Founder and Executive Director

They have sections for resources, brochures, articles, and a newsletter. You can get on their mailing list, and they NEED volunteers. It appears to me that, although they are based in Maine, you may be able to volunteer from anywhere in the country. There's a section on the site describing what they need. Also, as you might expect, they need donations.

This is from their "Services" page:

SERVICES DAHMW.org Provides direct services and referrals to adult victims of intimate partner violence, our services include the following: Crisis Hotline: 1-888-7HELPLINE

24-hour hotline operated by staff and trained volunteers to offer information and crisis intervention to victims of intimate partner violence.

Information:

Provide information about the issues concerning intimate partner violence. Referrals to community resources. Resource directory for the country including where to find (if available) "male victim friendly" resources in your area. Assistance in filing protection from abuse orders (where available).

Counseling:

Referrals to individual and group counseling for victims of intimate partner violence. (Not available in all areas for male victims please speak to our helpline volunteer to find out what's available in your area)

Educational Service:

DAHMW has a speakers bureau made up of seasoned professionals from all facets of the domestic violence field (law enforcement, attorneys, psychologists, social service providers, researchers) who provide presentations to community groups and organizations interested in learning more about intimate partner violence. Contact DAHMW at 207-683-5758 to set one up.

Support Groups:

Referrals to support groups for victims of intimate partner violence (support groups for male victims somewhat limited please speak to our helpline volunteer to find out what's available in your area).

Emergency Shelter:

Emergency shelter and extended temporary haven for men, women and child survivors of intimate partner violence. (Shelter for male victims with or without children is somewhat limited, so please speak to our helpline advocate to find out what's available in your area).

Need Help?

Are you currently in a violent relationship or a survivor of one? Contact DAHMW AT 1-888-743-5754 (1-888-7HELPLINE) for crisis intervention. We are here to help.

I wanted to put an article here from their newsletter, but it's in Adobe Acrobat, and I can't copy and paste. It's an In Memoriam for Anthony Tucker, a 13 year old boy who was shot by his mother's abuser. He couldn't go to the shelter with his mother and siblings, because the cut-off age for boys is 12.

What do you say to something like that? That is why this organization and others like it is so important. I have an e-mail in to Jan Brown, asking for more information, which I'll pass on when I get it.

This is a chance to do something, for those of you who were looking for such an opportunity.

Get foxit reader for pdf files... copy & paste is a piece of cake

That is great KM these guys have got it right ignoreing female victims to help the male ones is no better than the thousands of shelters that cater only to women and let young boys like in your example die for no reason. I like how these people are there to help people regardless of gender.