Gather all the information you can about domestic violence. Contact Liberty House. Liberty House not only offers women safety, but also provides advocacy, support, and other needed services.

Sometimes your own feelings about the violence may make it difficult for you to confront the situation. Contact Liberty House and talk to staff about your concerns. Battered women's advocates can be an excellent source of support for both you and your friend.

Letting your friend know you care and are willing to listen may be the best help you can offer. Don't force the issue, but allow her to confide in you at her own pace. Keep your mind open and really listen to what she tells you.

Never blame her for what's happening or underestimate her fear of potential danger.

Remember that your friend must make her own decision about her life. Focus on supporting her right to make her own choices.

When she asks for advice on what she should do, share the information you've gathered with her privately. Let her know she is not alone and that caring people are available to help her. Encourage her to seek the assistance of battered women's advocates at Liberty House. Assure her that any information she shares with them will be kept confidential.

Many battered women first seek the advice of marriage counselors, psychiatrists, or members of the clergy. Not all helping professionals, however, are fully aware of the special circumstances of abused women. If the first person she contacts is not helpful, she should be encouraged to find assistance elsewhere.

Battered women live with emotional as well as physical abuse. Your friend is probably continually told by the abuser that she is a bad woman, a bad wife, and a bad mother. Without positive reinforcement from outside the home, she may begin to believe she can't do anything right - that there really is something wrong with her.

Give her the emotional support she needs to believe that she is a good person. Help her examine her strengths and skills. Emphasize that she deserves a life that is free from violence.

Tell her you're there for her when she needs you. Provide whatever you can- transportation, child care, financial assistance.

The first safe place your friend should contact is Liberty House. Shelter workers can help her examine her options. If she decides to leave, a shelter may be the safest place she can go. The sad truth, however, is that not all communities have shelters or safe homes. Sometimes shelters don't have enough room for all women and children who need their help. Your friend may need to rely on family or friends for temporary housing.

It cannot be overemphasized that domestic violence is a crime that can result in serious physical injury and even death. If you are a neighbor or otherwise know that a battering incident is occurring, call the police immediately. Calling the police does not always mean the abuser will be put in jail. It is simply the most effective way to protect the woman and her children from immediate harm.