Verbal abuse can be scary and have lasting impacts. Hear from special guest Jessica Fernandez about how to recognize verbal abuse in this third installment of our series looking at different types of abuse. If you or someone you know...
Archives: Learning Center
Ask Ava, Ep. 267: “How can you recognize gaslighting?”
Gaslighting is when someone uses manipulation and lies to purposely make you question your reality and your experiences. In the second installment of a 4-part Ask Ava series exploring different types of abuse, special guest Jessica Fernandez talks about how...
Ask Ava, Ep. 266: “What is financial abuse?”
Today we're launching a new 4-part Ask Ava series highlighting different types of abuse besides physical violence. In this episode, special guest Jessica Fernandez talks about the warning signs of financial abuse - when someone gains power and control over...
Domestic Violence Is a Life and Death Issue, Even When There Are No Bruises
Each October, Domestic Violence Awareness Month invites us to reflect on the realities of abuse and the lives it impacts. But reflection alone is not enough. We must confront the ways domestic violence is often minimized in public discourse, treated...
Ask Ava, Ep. 265: “How can teens protect themselves against dating abuse when they start dating?”
Before dating, it can be helpful to identify your goals for relationship and feel confident in your right to make your own choices, set boundaries, and give or deny consent. Along with learning the red flags of abusive relationships, these...
Ask Ava Ep 264 “How to set boundaries without being mean?”
Setting boundaries is a form of self-love; creating safety for YOU is not mean to someone else. Special guest Jessica Fernandez joins us to talk about how setting boundaries can be an act of healing and empowerment! If you or...
When Leaders Minimize Domestic Violence, Survivors Pay the Price
By Michele Boronkas, CEO of Safe + Sound Somerset When the President of the United States publicly questions whether “a little fight with the wife at home” can be considered a crime, it sends a chilling message—not just to survivors...
Ask Ava, Ep. 263: “How can I help my friend in an abusive relationship?”
It's important to show your friend you believe them and support their decisions with care and concern, not with judgement. Join us as special guest Jessica Fernandez shares how her friends helped her through a difficult time. To speak with...
Safe+Sound Somerset Must Be Protected: A Survivor’s Story – NJ Patch
Reprinted from Patch, copyright 2025 Patch Media Somerset County resident Jessica Fernandez speaks on the importance of Safe + Sound after hearing of their federal funding cuts. Alexis Tarrazi, Patch Staff Posted Fri, Aug 22, 2025 at 3:28 pm ET...
The Crisis of Elder Abuse in Domestic and Sexual Violence
At Safe+Sound Somerset, we believe survivors—of all ages. Sadly, age matters. Older adults experiencing domestic and sexual violence are often invisible in conversations about safety, healing, and justice. As the nation’s population ages, the intersection of elder abuse with interpersonal...
