Domestic violence occurs in homes throughout our community. It knows no boundaries of color, gender, age, socioeconomic status, or sexual orientation.
It happens in all types of relationships – to married couples, within families, to intimate partners living together, to roommates, and to dating couples. The abuse can be physical, mental, sexual, emotional, financial, verbal, or electronic.
DOVE Center provides safe shelter and trauma-informed care to achieve empowerment, hope, and independence.
You can help DOVE center provide survivors with safe shelter and trauma-informed care to achieve empowerment, hope, and independence.
Ray and I hope that others will join us in supporting DOVE to ensure resources are available when someone reaches out for help.
Join DOVE Center in raising awareness and removing stigma around domestic violence by participating in these Domestic Violence Awareness Month Events! Become an advocate – speak up and offer resources when you see signs of an abusive relationship. If you have questions about these events, please email [email protected]. Thank you for your support!
Paul Mitchell’s Halloween Festival – A family-friendly community event
October 9th, 2023 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Bring the kids and join in on some Halloween fun!
Rainbow Brunch with Encircle – October 14th, 2023
190 South 100 East
- Join us at Encircle for some fun activities and quality time with awesome people!
- Everyone is welcome!
Empty Shoe Exhibit- Free and open to the public
October 16 – 20, 2023
Utah Tech University – Holland Lobby
Opening ceremony will be held October 18th, 2023 in the Gardner Step Down Lounge. This will take place at 2:30 pm with a brief ceremony to welcome guests, where we will be escorted to the exhibit.
- A sobering display of shoes representing Utahns who lost their lives to DV
- Pick up free dating violence and domestic violence resources
St. George Farmer’s Market – A free, family-friendly community event October 21st, 2023 8am-12pm & October 28th, 2023 8am-12pm
Vernon Worthen Park
300 S 400 EStop by DOVE Center’s table for swag and learn about our services, DOVE’s Safe Pet Program, and Utah’s new Lethality Assessment Program!
DV Stats
- 1 in 3 Utah women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime
- There is approximately one DV-related homicide each month in Utah
- Women are 10 times more likely than men to die from domestic violence
- 21.4% of Utah men experience intimate partner physical violence, intimate partner sexual violence, and/or intimate partner stalking in their lifetimes
- Domestic violence is the leading cause of homelessness for women and children.
- Over 90% of homeless women have experienced severe physical or sexual violence at some point in their lives, and 63% have been victims of intimate partner violence as adults.
Warning Signs of Abuse in Relationships
- Jealousy
- Controlling and possessive actions
- Quick involvement – strong feelings or commitment early on
- Unpredictable mood swings
- Explosive anger
- Isolates you from friends and family
- Verbally abusive
- Breaks, strikes, or throws things when angry
- Shows hypersensitivity
- Believes in rigid sex roles
- Blames others for his/her problems or feelings
- Cruel to animals or children
- Abused prior partners
- Threatens violence (including against self, such as suicide threats)
- One party makes excuses for partner’s abusive behavior or justifies it when others point it out
- One party has to account for how he/she spends all of his/her time
- One party forces the other to engage in unwanted sexual acts
- Excessive phone calls, text messages, etc.
- The abused party is visibly worried about his/her partner’s anticipated angry reaction to ordinary events
- The abused party visibly changes his/her behavior or personality when in the other party’s presence