Organizations Dedicated to Fighting Abuse

Abuse can take many forms. It can be suffered at the hands of a loved one or a stranger, and it may be encountered in the home, the workplace, or outside. Physical and emotional abuse can have long lasting effects and leave their victims depressed, hurt, and isolated long after the original abuse is over. Abuse in all its forms thrives in an atmosphere of silence, where the abuser is never questioned and the victim often feels as if they are to blame for their own victimization. For this reason, it is crucial that individuals become aware of the types of abuse that exist, notice the signs of abuse, and refuse to tolerate it. Fortunately, there are groups dedicated to educating the public and providing resources and support for victims.

Physical Abuse

• CASA – Community Action Stops Abuse dedicated to ending all kinds of violence
• National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs - Addresses the problem of violence committed against and within the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and HIV-affected communities.
• Citizens Against Physical, Sexual, and Emotional Abuse – A Pennsylvania resource for all forms of abuse

Medical Abuse

• MAMA – Mothers Against Medical Abuse helps to stop prescription drug deaths
• Leap for Patient Safety – Dedicated to improving the quality of patient care.
• Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy – A definition and overview of this form of medical abuse
• National Patient Advocate Foundation – Acting as the patient’s voice

Industrial Abuse

• Corp Watch – Holding corporations accountable
• Corporate Accountability International – A watchdog group dedicated to stopping corporate and industrial abuse

Mental Abuse

• Mental Abuse – Understanding mental, emotional, and psychological abuse
• Crisis Intervention Services – A crisis line for emotional and physical abuse

Environmental Abuse

• Green Care Habitat – Encourages environmental sustainability
• The Nature Conservancy – Protecting nature and preserving life
• Environmental Working Group – Monitors the pollution and chemicals in the environment

Employment Abuse

• Work Place Abuse – Definitions and types of work place abuses
• Work Place Bullying – Dedicated to the eradication of workplace bullying combining public education, help for individuals, employer solutions and legislative advocacy

Abuse of Power

• Transparency International – Definition and overview of abuse of power and corruption
• Open Secrets – Dedicated to informing citizens, empowering voters, and advocating for a transparent and responsive government

Elderly Abuse

• Elder Abuse and Neglect – A definition of elder abuse with its signs and symptoms
• National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse – An overview elder abuse and what you can do
• Center of Excellence on Elder Abuse and Neglect – A California resource for elder abuse
• National Council on Elder Abuse – A resource sponsored by the US Administration on Aging

Sexual Abuse

• Sexual Abuse – A definition of sexual abuse
• Darkness to Light – Prevention and response to child sexual abuse
• ASACP – Association of Sites Advocating Child Protection is trying to stamp out child pornography on the Internet
• RAINN - Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network acts as source of support for victims of all forms of sexual abuse
• Stop the Silence – Dedicated to raising awareness of child sexual abuse
• Male Survivor – Overcoming sexual victimization of boys and men
• Pandora's Project – Providing information, support, and resources to survivors of rape and sexual abuse
• Promote Truth – Support and information about sexual violence issues for teens and their communities

School Abuse/Violence

• Safe Youth – National Youth Violence Resource Center is a federal resource for communities working to prevent violence committed by and against young people.

Animal Abuse

• Knock Out Dog Fighting – Dedicated to putting an end to this form of cruelty
• The Animal Legal Defense Fund – Winning the case against cruelty
• The Humane Society of the United States – Dedicated to rescue and protection
• ASPCA – The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is one of the largest organizations fighting animal cruelty
• Progressive Animal Welfare Society – Advocates for animals through education, legislation, and direct care

Social Abuse

• Social Abuse – Definition and explanation of types of social abuse

Legal Abuse

• Citizens Against Legal Abuse - Provides education, guidance and support services to victims of Judicial and Legal Abuse

Verbal Abuse

• Verbal Abuse – A definition and explanation of verbal abuse
• Signs of Verbal Abuse – Recognizing the signs

Child Abuse

• What is child abuse? – A definition from the World Health Organization
• Child Abuse Prevention Association – CAPA works to prevent and treat child abuse
• Child Help – An organization for education, prevention, and treatment
• ISPCAN – International Society for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect trains professionals to work with vulnerable children
• Prevent Child Abuse America – An advocacy and research group

Substance Abuse

• Substance Abuse – A basic definition of substance abuse
• Narcotics Anonymous – An organization dedicated to education and recovery
• Alcoholics Anonymous – A 12 step program for recovering alcoholics
• Fighting Back – A program funded by 15 communities to combat illicit drug and alcohol abuse
• Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse –Providing information to prevent and treat alcoholism and drug abuse

Emotional Abuse

• Emotional Abuse – Definition and types of emotional abuse
• MD Junction – Emotional abuse support group

Spousal Abuse

• Spousal Abuse – Definition of spousal abuse
• Stop Abuse For Everyone - Services for victims of domestic violence who typically fall between the cracks, such as abused men, gay and lesbian victims, the elderly, teens, and immigrants
• National Domestic Violence Hotline – Provides crisis intervention, information, and referral
• National Coalition Against Domestic Violence – Resources for awareness and support
• Battered Women's Justice Project - Offers training, technical assistance, and consultation on practices of the criminal and civil justice systems in addressing domestic violence.

Psychological Abuse

• Psychological Abuse – A medical definition of this form of abuse
• International Cultic Studies Association - A global network of people concerned about psychological manipulation and abuse in cultic groups, alternative movements, and other environments
• Psychological Abuse of Children – What this abuse looks like when targeted at children