October was Domestic Violence Awareness Month – a month that is dedicated to remembering victims and persons impacted by domestic violence, celebrating survivors, and educating our community to end violence – but it is important to remember that domestic violence is a very serious issue affecting our communities all year long.

Here are some places to find help ways to help raise awareness throughout the year.

The Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence

  • The Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence can assist you in finding local help and resources to protect you and your family. Here is a county by county guide to comprehensive domestic violence programs in Maryland.
  • The site also provides a primer on legal options.


House of Ruth Maryland

  • House of Ruth Maryland is one of the nation's leading intimate partner violence centers, helping thousands of battered women and their children find safety.  


The One Love Foundation in Honour of Yeardley Reynolds Love

  • Join One Love: The One Love Foundation is a nationwide community dedicated to changing the statistics around relationship abuse. There are many ways to get involved and join the cause:
  • Host a Workshop: Students across the country are working with the One Love Foundation to host Escalation Workshops that illuminate the warning signs of an unhealthy and potentially dangerous relationships. If you would like to host a free workshop, start here.
  • Educate Yourself: Read the One Love blog where the foundation shares tips, articles and stories on how we can all be a part of the Be1forChange movement.  
  • Spread the Word: It is important to spread the word and share educational tools to help victims both recognize an unhealthy relationship and to get out of one. Join One Love on Facebook and share videos dedicated to raising awareness and preventing domestic violence.  
  • Raise it Forward: Host a fundraiser or start a crowdrise page to bring attention and resources to the cause. You can sign up here.
  • Donate: Be a resource by donating to the cause. Donations to One Love can be made here.
  • Stick it to Love: Challenge your friends to learn the difference between #THATSLOVE and #THATSNOTLOVE. Learn more here.  
  • Recognize When #THATSNOTLOVE and Find Help: If you are in an unhealthy relationship, learn how to find your way out at Love Labyrinth.
  • Collect Cell Phones Against Abuse: Sign up for One Love's Cell Phones Against Abuse Campaign and collect used cell phones to help benefit domestic violence shelters and victims.


The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence


The National Domestic Violence Hotline

  • The National Domestic Violence Hotline has highly-trained advocates available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to talk confidentially with anyone experiencing domestic violence, seeking resources or information, or questioning unhealthy aspects of their relationship.


The National Resource Center on Domestic Violence

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.