Education & Outreach

Safe Harbor understands that domestic violence is not a personal issue but rather, a community issue that requires education, prevention, and collaboration to solve. Through our continuous outreach and education efforts, we aim to raise awareness about the complexities of domestic violence, as well as build partnerships with community allies to better reach those who need services.

Together, through outreach and education, we can influence a culture where all people feel safe and valued in their relationships.

Safe Harbor staff are available to discuss a range of topics - including domestic violence education and information about our services - at speaking engagements, professional trainings/workshops, and awareness campaigns. If you're interested, please request a speaker. Please note that coordinating a speaking engagement takes time and we are often not able to fulfill last-minute speaking requests.

Our staff and volunteers are also available to distribute Safe Harbor brochures, posters and other outreach materials to your business and/or community event. If you're interested in receiving Safe Harbor materials, please email us at info@safeharborsc.org.

Like all of our programs, these services are free of charge to our community.

a note about covid-19

Safe Harbor will continue to offer outreach activities such as trainings and speaking engagements on virtual platforms such as Zoom. Due to the high levels of COVID-19 cases in South Carolina, we have suspended all in-person outreach and prevention activities until October 31st when we will review our policy again. This is a difficult decision that was made with the safety and health of our clients, volunteers, and staff in mind. Thank you for understanding.

popular training & speaking engagement topics

Domestic Violence & Safe Harbor 101
- Learn about the complex dynamics of domestic violence (including local and national statistics), barriers to leaving an abusive relationship, general safety planning tips, and Safe Harbor services.
- This speaking engagement typically takes about 30 to 45 minutes, but can be longer depending on the amount of questions participants have.
"In Her Shoes" Simulation
- "In Her Shoes" is an interactive simulation in which participants "walk in the shoes" of someone facing abuse from their intimate partner and learn about the difficult decisions and barriers survivors face. Following the simulation, a Safe Harbor facilitator will lead a debriefing session in which participants can discuss and share their thoughts and insights.
- This simulation works best in a large room with several tables, as it requires set-up of multiple stations that participants move to and from. Accomodations can be made for large groups and people with limited mobility.
- This simulation and debrief can take anywhere from 1 to 2.5 hours, depending on group size, amount of time participants spend working through the simulation, and length of the debriefing session.
Survivor Speaker
- Safe Harbor is honored to work with a team of volunteer ambassadors, many of whom identify as having experienced abuse from an intimate partner. Survivor Ambassadors are sometimes available to share their stories, which can be extremely impactful and eye-opening.
- During this kind of speaking engagement, we ask that participants respect the speaker's wishes around taking pictures and asking questions.
- Time varies by speaker.
How to Respond to Someone Experiencing Abuse
- Whether you are a faith leader, HR professional or dedicated community member, it is important to respond to someone who is experiencing abuse in a trauma-informed way. Safe Harbor can provide best practices for responding to someone who discloses intimate partner abuse or who you suspect may be experiencing abuse from their partner.
- This training typically takes about an hour, as it includes Domestic Violence 101 and ample opportunity for questions.
- In the meantime, we encourage you to read more about supporting a survivor.
Healthcare Professionals
- A healthcare professional may be the first person in a survivor's life to recognize warning signs of abuse and to refer them to life-saving resources. It is essential for healthcare professionals to understand the dynamics and warning signs of domestic violence. A Safe Harbor speaker can provide screening suggestions, information about our services and other relevant information. Please take a few minutes to review the resources below to learn more about working with patients who are experiencing domestic violence.
- If you have questions about Safe Harbor services or would like our brochures and materials to share in your healthcare facility, please contact us at 864-385-7188 or info@safeharborsc.org.
Helpful Resources for Healthcare Professionals:
- Healthcare Professionals - Full Video (20 mins) from Safe Harbor
- Healthcare Professionals - Short Video (10 mins) from Safe Harbor
- Improving the Health Care Response to DV from Futures Without Violence
- Equipping Hospitals to Care for Domestic Violence Victims from The Duke Endowment
- Domestic Violence and Health Care from Power and Control
- Documenting DV: How Health Care Providers Can Help Victims from the National Institute of Justice
- National Health Resource Center on Domestic Violence
- IPV Health Partners
ManUPstate
- #ManUPstate is a collaborative social movement led by Safe Harbor, that emphasizes the role men can play in ending violence against women. Domestic abuse is not a "women's issue"; men must also participate in ending it, by understanding unhealthy cultural messages regarding gender, masculinity and violence.
- #ManUPstate challenges these subtle yet harmful social norms that lead to a quiet acceptance of violence and discrimination towards women. We strive to give men a mindset and vocabulary to take responsibility for ending violence against women, and to model healthy attitudes about what it means to "be a man."
- To learn more about #ManUPstate's initiatives, visit www.manupstate.org.
Other Resources: