Billings Area Family Violence Task Force

06/03/2026

This Friday and Saturday!

Yellowstone Valley Out of the Darkness Walk to Fight Su***de is hosting their Annual Garage Sale at 1919 Montana Avenue (Executive Cleaning Garage). The Garage Sale is Friday and Saturday, June 5th and 6th from 8:00-2:00. We will be taking sale donations on June 2-4 from 9:00-3:00.

Friday & Saturday Sara Jo's Gourmet Lemonade and Santanahs Food Truck will be there. Pop's Tots will be out on Saturday!

06/03/2026

If your body still feels on edge at home, you’re not “overreacting”—your nervous system is doing its job. 🧠

After trauma, your brain can stay on high alert long after the danger is gone. Everyday things—sounds in the hallway, certain smells, clutter, unexpected touch—can flip the stress switch even when you’re safe.

The good news: your space can help. Small, low-effort changes like creating a predictable “calm corner,” soft lighting, soothing textures, reducing sudden noise, and adding simple routines can signal safety to your body. Over time, that consistency helps you feel more grounded, secure, and able to exhale. 🕯️💜

What’s one tiny change you could make this week to help your home feel safer—just one percent more calm?

🔗 https://zpr.io/UzjVSKrb5iKP

06/03/2026

🚨 TRIGGER WARNING: Domestic Violence / System Failure / Trauma

"I DID EVERYTHING THEY TOLD ME TO DO."

I spoke up.

I reported it.

I asked for help.

I got the protective order.
I called the police.
I provided evidence.
I told the truth.

And still...

I was ignored.

One survivor said an officer turned off his body camera and never documented what happened.

Another asked for protection and lost her children instead.

Another spent 18 years surviving abuse only to discover she would have to fight the system too.

Another believed she was going to die.

And another escaped a relationship that moved so fast she didn't realize she was trapped until everything—her money, her freedom, and her sense of safety—was already gone.

That's the part people don't always talk about.

Sometimes finding the courage to speak is only the beginning of the battle.

And sometimes the silence survivors are breaking isn't just about the abuse...

It's about what happened after they asked for help.

Read their full stories:
https://breakthesilencedv.org/?p=20522

If you have a story to tell, share your story:
https://breakthesilencedv.org/?page_id=16824

💔 Have you ever reached out for help and felt like nobody was listening?

06/02/2026

06/02/2026

06/02/2026

06/01/2026

You can join this meeting via Zoom! Just head over to our website (bafvtf.org), click on the McGuire tab, and then check out the calendar for the link.

06/01/2026

We’re excited to announce an upcoming opportunity to take Healthy By Design’s Community Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) 101 training this month.

📅 Date: Wednesday, June 17, 2026
🕐 Time: 1:00 – 2:30 PM
📍 Location: United Way of Yellowstone County (2173 Overland Ave.)

This training helps strengthen our community’s approach to understanding and respecting a diversity of lived, traumatic experiences. It also focuses on building supportive cultures, environments, and practices that empower those impacted by trauma.

Interested in becoming a TIC Trainer and helping Healthy By Design share trauma-informed approaches throughout the community? We encourage anyone interested in becoming a TIC trainer to attend this free, community training.
Please let us know you are coming by emailing us at [email protected]. We hope to see you there!

06/01/2026

06/01/2026

This month, LAWS recognizes Pride Month, National Gun Violence Awareness Month, and Men's Mental Health Awareness Month. While each observance highlights unique experiences and challenges, all are connected by a shared goal: creating safer, healthier communities where every person can thrive.

Throughout June, we'll share resources, prevention education, and survivor stories while exploring the ways these important issues intersect with domestic violence and sexual assault.

Together, we can build a community where every person feels safe, supported, and empowered.