OUR MISSION
Liz Break Free (“LIZ”) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation.
LIZ’s mission is to help victims of domestic violence Break Free from the cycle of abuse through comprehensive, victim-oriented services.
THE PROBLEM
Fresno’s domestic violence rate tops California’s big cities.
Why do victims stay with their abusers?
Victims are not to blame
It is commonly understood that domestic abuse occurs in a cyclical pattern within the relationship. A “cycle of abuse.”
As with other pervasive crimes of high recidivism, there are underlying dynamics that contribute to the persistence of domestic abuse within a relationship.
These underlying dynamics can be distilled into certain categories of basic individual needs that the abusive relationship either fulfills or restricts for the victim, thereby limiting the victim's option to leave.
The underlying dynamics of the cycle of abuse:
The Duluth Model of Power and Control wheel is a tool that helps explain the different ways an abusive partner can use power and control to manipulate a relationship.
We have distilled this down into four major practical categories, and we have thought about what we can do to help in each of those categories:
WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP
A comprehensive approach to breaking the cycle:
We define "breaking the cycle of abuse" as escaping the abusive relationship - not fixing the abuser.
Any solution for breaking the cycle should focus on alleviating the foregoing dynamics of control in recurring abuse:
SAFETY
To address physical abuse, our first initiative is to create a guided, simplified web application that will allow abuse victims to generate petitions for domestic violence restraining orders very quickly, easily, and from virtually anywhere. Then users will be able to e-file their petitions directly to the court from the web application.
FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE
To address financial abuse, we will promote financial independence from the abuser. We will offer a checking account that is owned and controlled by the survivor with no monthly service charge through the BBVA Bank "Compass for Your Cause" program. Checking accounts are also available for those who have had trouble opening a checking account in the past. Our consumers will also have access to free Financial Wellness Seminars that provide practical, useful information about money management. Topics include managing credit and debt, creating a family budget, saving for college, buying a home, and more. The Compass for Your Cause program provides a $50 donation to our cause for every new account opened and .25% donation on each qualifying transaction our consumers make with their BBVA Compass Visa Check Card.
PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING
To address emotional abuse, we will focus on mental health care. We will partner with local, like-minded mental health professionals to provide the non-judgmental support and advice needed to address the challenges associated with leaving an abusive relationship. Restraining orders obtained through our service will seek costs for mental health services necessitated by the abuse, as permitted under the Domestic Violence Prevention Act.
COMMUNITY
To address isolation, we will focus on offering safe association with others who have had similar experiences and who may come from similar cultural backgrounds through social networking and mixing events. Social mixers can be any kind of event, ranging from dining to charity games, which may provide opportunities such as business and employment networking, fundraising, friendship, and support.
OUR TEAM
CHRISTOPHER GARCEZ, J.D.
CEO | Chariperson
KATIE PHAPHON
Secretary of the Board
FERNANDO AYALA
Treasurer