Domestic Violence Could Affect Unborn Children

L.Y. Marlow, the founder of the nonprofit organization Saving Promise, talks about the dangers that domestic violence can have on a family. Marlow's story tells us of how her family has suffered through four generations of domestic abuse. She's fighting to ensure that it does not plague the next generation, her granddaughter.

According to HealthDay News though, it may already be too late.  A recent study from the University of Konstanz in Germany suggests that domestic violence could have negative effects on a child before it even leaves the womb.

In recent years, scientists have tried to understand how stress during pregnancy affects the fetus, possibly by altering genes. Research has suggested that anxious and stressed mothers are more likely to have children who develop attention and behavior problems and other issues, said Thomas G. O'Connor, director of the Wynne Center for Family Research at the University of Rochester Medical Center in new York.

Increasing awareness of domestic violence among people all across the United States is vital. All it takes is a $10 donation to help Saving Promise with this quest.

Women's World Cup Final - Congratulations To USA Women On Great Tournament

We here at Help Stop Abuse want to send our congratulations to the women of the U.S. National Team for their second place finish at the Women's World Cup in Germany today . The Americans were classy in defeat, and despite being outplayed, Japan deserved the win in the end.

The women on this team inspired all of us. From Alex Morgan, the youngest and fastest player on the team, scoring the first goal to put the USA in front just minutes after entering as a substitute, to the symbolic Abby Wambach scoring with her head once again in overtime. The resilience of the American women was on display today, as its been throughout the 2011 Women's World Cup.

Moments like this are important to remember when making your charitable contributions for the year. Women can and do inspire us all, and we should do all we can to help those women who are unfortunately battered and abused. Saving Promise is fighting to stop domestic violence. Join them.

Senate Must Renew Violence Against Women Act

Saving Promise is not alone in its fight to end domestic violence and raise global awareness for the cause.

The Senate is considering renewal of a $551 Million program called the Violence Against Women Act, or VAWA. The program funds shelters, hotlines, counseling programs, and financial guidance for women and children who have been abused or are at risk.

According to Cheryl Wetzstein of the Washington Times, funding could be a significant concern.

The recent recession, however, has drained funding from shelters and local programs financially, even as it compounded the stress in many troubled families, said Mr. Leahy, citing a 2010 survey that found more than 70,600 adults and children being served in one day by local domestic-violence programs. Such numbers “illustrate the importance of maintaining and strengthening” VAWA, he said.

Dr. Phil McGraw even appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier today in support of extending VAWA. He told the committee not to be "penny-wise and pound-foolish" when deciding whether or not to allocate funds toward helping women suffering from domestic abuse.

Color Me Butterfly - A Story Of Domestic Violence

Here's a video clip of Saving Promise founder L.Y. Marlow reading a passage from her story Color Me Butterfly.



The story Color Me Butterfly is inspired by the true story of Marlow's family and the five generations of domestic abuse that they have suffered through. Here's a blurb about the book.

The last thing Eloise Bingham wanted was to leave the comforts of her South Carolina home and family. But at the end of World War II, the young wife follows her formidable husband, Isaac, to Philadelphia—only to experience Isaac’s sinister and violent temper. Eloise harbors fear and resentment, but carries an unwavering faith that helps her to mother her children. Eloise’s children—and their children and grandchildren—will face their own trials over the next sixty years: Mattie, who has lived in her mother Eloise’s shadow, finds it takes a life-changing tragedy to help her break free; Lydia, Mattie’s strong-willed daughter, summons the resolve to rise above the family’s cycle of abuse; and Treasure finally Treasure, Lydia’s lively daughter, has the chance to be the first to escape her family’s destructive legacy.

Click through here to find where Color Me Butterfly can be purchased.

New Blog Against Domestic Violence

Welcome and thanks for coming to our blog. Its called Help Stop Abuse, and its dedicated to learning about different ways to combat domestic violence. We'll use this space to share stories and educational information of what others are doing to help stop the abuse.

This site is run by a group of MBA students at the University Of Maryland, and we were driven to create it by L.Y. Marlow, the founder of Saving Promise, who spoke in our Social Media class one evening. Marlow is an inspirational figure who has seen her family suffer through four generations of domestic abuse. She is participating and trying to lead the movement against domestic violence so the fifth generation, her granddaughter named Promise, won't suffer the same fate.

We'll be sharing information in this space, and hope it will be useful to you and others. Please forward it on to anyone you think may be interested, and follow this link to the Saving Promise website to learn more about what the organization is currently doing to help stop the abuse.