CMBWN

Searching Chicagoland area organizations, I stumbled across the Chicago Metropolitan Battered Women's Network. This organization provides healing by leading public advocacy and public policy efforts, providing education and public awareness of domestic violence, and connecting victims of domestic violence to service providers that can aid them in their time of need. I found that the organization's definition of a domestic violence offender as anyone who "physically assaults (which includes but is not limited to; hitting, choking, kicking, shoving, raping, destruction of personal property), threatens, harasses, exploits, neglects, deprives, intimidates dependents, stalks, or interferes with the personal liberty of another family or household member" (http://www.batteredwomensnetwork.org/id15.html)
This not only covers the physical aspects of abuse, but also the mental and emotional aspects that are equally sufferable.
If I were asked to change anything about the organization, I would make it more broadcasted. Before today I have not heard of this organization, and I'm aware of others who have endured what the SMBWN identifies as domestic violence. These people have swept it under the rug, and thought they have rid themselves about the problem, they still carry the emotional baggage that could have been easily delt with, provided the proper treatment was applied.

Kaitlyn Privett