<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Bethesda House, Inc]]></title><description><![CDATA[Bethesda House is a nationally accredited shelter and home for women and children who are escaping domestic violence or sex trafficking.]]></description><link>https://www.bethesdahouseofmercy.com/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Mon, 24 Aug 2026 19:41:44 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.bethesdahouseal.org/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[Just Tell Them Who You Ahh]]></title><description><![CDATA[A recent conversation with the mayor of one of Covington County’s municipalities was a good reminder that sometimes we have to offer up a fresh explanation of who we are and what we do.   Most of the public has no concept of what it's like to keep people alive and safe from harm. There's no way for them to know that our tiny program — small by design — makes it a daily mission to love survivors by providing everything from a safe, nurturing home to counseling, substance and alcohol recovery...]]></description><link>https://www.bethesdahouseal.org/post/just-tell-them-who-you-ahh</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a7b915e2a9b322b8de831a3</guid><pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 2026 21:17:47 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7346e4_f59c000443dd46c29556284e20dfd9bd~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Alison Jackson-Wood</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[For Educators and Youth Workers: A Story of Student Exploitation]]></title><description><![CDATA[It seemed like a hopeful invitation. A ninth grader, new to town, was invited to her first party — a chance at new friends in a new school. Her parents, not yet knowing anyone to ask about it, let her go.   At that party, she was sexually assaulted by multiple people. It was the beginning of two years of captivity.   She was given a phone, told to keep it hidden and silenced, and to check it hourly. A text meant she had to reach a specific location — often just a short walk from school or...]]></description><link>https://www.bethesdahouseal.org/post/for-educators-and-youth-workers-a-story-of-student-exploitation</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a7b90c32ca7f56c717d77ec</guid><pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 2026 21:16:21 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7346e4_4a975c26100b4aedb0aa263f66217359~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Alison Jackson-Wood</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[World Day Against Trafficking in Persons 2026]]></title><description><![CDATA[July 30 is recognized as World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, a day dedicated to raising awareness about human trafficking and recognizing the experiences of victims and survivors. Human trafficking continues to impact people around the world and can take many forms, including forced labor, sexual exploitation, and other types of exploitation.   Human trafficking often involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to exploit individuals for the benefit of others. Traffickers may target...]]></description><link>https://www.bethesdahouseal.org/post/world-day-against-trafficking-in-persons-2026</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a7a19622ea6eb4d2c70f6d3</guid><pubDate>Tue, 14 Jul 2026 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7346e4_eaea798e99ee47d39deefeaacf10b02a~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Destiny McCall</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[When Basic Needs Become New Beginnings]]></title><description><![CDATA[When someone arrives at Bethesda House, one of the first things we want them to feel is that they are safe, welcomed, and cared for. Before healing can truly begin, basic needs have to be met. Sometimes, the first steps toward a new beginning start with something as simple as a warm shower, a fresh change of clothes, or a meal after a difficult journey.   From the moment a survivor enters our program, we provide the essentials they need — personal care items, food and water, clean clothing,...]]></description><link>https://www.bethesdahouseal.org/post/when-basic-needs-become-new-beginnings</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a7a19222ea6eb4d2c70f628</guid><pubDate>Tue, 14 Jul 2026 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7346e4_fa2a64ae04a34b9897d14e1388570c58~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Destiny McCall</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[You See the Product. We See the Progress.]]></title><description><![CDATA[This month, survivors at Bethesda House are continuing their work toward stability and independence through consistent, skill-building opportunities. One of these opportunities consists of our survivor-made items we sell through Purple Lotus.   While the public only sees the finished items, the deeper impact is found in the process. Through making these items, survivors are building confidence in their ability to complete tasks, and we are seeing a growing sense of pride in their work. One of...]]></description><link>https://www.bethesdahouseal.org/post/you-see-the-product-we-see-the-progress</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a29e350f8e7e84c72c098a1</guid><pubDate>Wed, 10 Jun 2026 22:23:48 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7346e4_182aae8ce9124cea9d080feeb0591bc0~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Destiny McCall</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[What Makes a Good Father?]]></title><description><![CDATA[The following statement should not be a surprise: We see the evidence of a lot of crummy fathering at Bethesda House. Yet we know there are great dads out there. Part of our job is helping women and children understand what a good one looks like. So, here’s the list we share every time we get an opportunity.   A good father shows up — not just physically, but emotionally. He creates a home where his children feel safe, loved, and heard. He models integrity by keeping his word, owning his...]]></description><link>https://www.bethesdahouseal.org/post/what-makes-a-good-father</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a284400750b8b39abc0e05f</guid><pubDate>Tue, 09 Jun 2026 16:49:27 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7346e4_835c0734a4ed4d5dac62e4ff1c6bbbf1~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Alison Jackson-Wood</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The 3 Ms – May, Mothers Day, and Mental Health]]></title><description><![CDATA[May is full of important things. This month, we turn our focus to mental health and motherhood. When the Past Shows Up at the Playground: Mental Health, Trauma, and Mothering There's a moment many mothers know but rarely talk about. Your child throws a tantrum in a grocery store, or slams a door, or cries in a way you can't fix — and something shifts inside you. Your heart rate climbs. Your chest tightens. Your response comes from somewhere in the past, somewhere deeper than the present...]]></description><link>https://www.bethesdahouseal.org/post/the-3-ms-may-mothers-day-and-mental-health</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a02405948aeb3fcb23deea0</guid><pubDate>Mon, 11 May 2026 20:57:40 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7346e4_6efd984412194123aa5678d57a539417~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Alison Jackson-Wood</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[What Thriving Looks Like]]></title><description><![CDATA["Thriving" means "prospering, highly successful" and "growing vigorously; flourishing" (THRIVING Definition &#38; Meaning | Dictionary.com). Our motto, "Love-Heal-Thrive," reflects our belief that love fosters healing, which makes thriving possible.   During an intake session, a survivor I'll call "Sarah" asked me, "What does thriving look like?" Exhausted after 40 years of marriage marked by physical violence and relentless emotional abuse, she struggled to believe she had any worth at all.   In...]]></description><link>https://www.bethesdahouseal.org/post/what-thriving-looks-like</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69de762fb9feb7db43b9e431</guid><pubDate>Tue, 14 Apr 2026 17:15:57 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7346e4_42e6dddb13604ce18ed7b8b47c96b130~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Alison Jackson-Wood</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The History of Sexual Assault Awareness Month]]></title><description><![CDATA[This year marks the 25th anniversary of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Like Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking Awareness, it's a necessary — if weary — tradition. Sexual assault awareness isn't something to celebrate. Yet the history of this form of violence — against women — reflects how slowly the hands of justice can turn.   Ancient roots of injustice: The Code of Hammurabi (1780 BC) treated rape of a virgin as damage to her father's property, while married women could be executed...]]></description><link>https://www.bethesdahouseal.org/post/the-history-of-sexual-assault-awareness-month</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69de75d21847596b2f5110ec</guid><pubDate>Tue, 14 Apr 2026 17:14:48 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7346e4_12d19bbaa737449ead111ad7234cd067~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Alison Jackson-Wood</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Sextortion: A Strategy for Traffickers]]></title><description><![CDATA[Sextortion is a growing tactic used by traffickers to exploit young people and unsuspecting adults online. Learn how sextortion works, why adolescents are especially vulnerable, and what you can do to help protect those in your life.]]></description><link>https://www.bethesdahouseal.org/post/sextortion-a-strategy-for-traffickers</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69af24200c1a368a2fa468ad</guid><pubDate>Mon, 09 Mar 2026 19:53:23 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7346e4_c3baa9092c51435aa26b050e18ef1a70~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Alison Jackson-Wood</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[What does it mean to love people to the point of healing and thriving?]]></title><description><![CDATA[What does it mean to love someone to the point of healing and thriving? At Bethesda House, love looks like practical support, encouragement, and walking alongside survivors as they take courageous steps toward transformation.]]></description><link>https://www.bethesdahouseal.org/post/what-does-it-mean-to-love-people-to-the-point-of-healing-and-thriving</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69af21591b8e90b2a7e91695</guid><pubDate>Mon, 09 Mar 2026 19:47:32 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7346e4_056f819aa48e4731bd120cc72afde27e~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Alison Jackson-Wood</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Resources for Those Who Have Lost a Loved One to Domestic Violence ]]></title><description><![CDATA[As we are painfully aware, not everyone survives intimate partner violence. Each person left behind grieves differently and the aftermath...]]></description><link>https://www.bethesdahouseal.org/post/resources-for-those-who-have-lost-a-loved-one-to-domestic-violence</link><guid isPermaLink="false">5f9c95bb3be89b001710e98b</guid><pubDate>Fri, 30 Oct 2020 22:53:03 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Alison Jackson-Wood</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[How to Help if Someone You Know is a Victim of Domestic Violence ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Listen to the victim and avoid casting blame. Make sure you say: "You don't deserve this;" "This is not your fault;" and "I believe you."...]]></description><link>https://www.bethesdahouseal.org/post/how-to-help-if-someone-you-know-is-a-victim-of-domestic-violence</link><guid isPermaLink="false">5f9b4b4e8e3e4e001708cbde</guid><pubDate>Thu, 29 Oct 2020 23:11:10 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Alison Jackson-Wood</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Covid-19 and Domestic Violence in Rural Areas]]></title><description><![CDATA[Daily life has never been static, as change is part of life. Currently, however, the changes are unlike any in recent history....]]></description><link>https://www.bethesdahouseal.org/post/covid-19-and-domestic-violence-in-rural-areas</link><guid isPermaLink="false">5f835dd99c394a001784673c</guid><pubDate>Sun, 11 Oct 2020 19:35:03 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Alison Jackson-Wood</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Bethesda House and October: Domestic Violence Awareness Month]]></title><description><![CDATA[October - a month to be shared by many passionate folks. In October, awareness is raised for Breast Cancer, Lupus, Down Syndrome, Rett...]]></description><link>https://www.bethesdahouseal.org/post/bethesda-house-and-october-domestic-violence-awareness-month</link><guid isPermaLink="false">5f7ba49b6edc4000183e1e44</guid><pubDate>Mon, 05 Oct 2020 22:57:54 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Alison Jackson-Wood</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Reflecting on Labor Day and The Labor of Love ]]></title><description><![CDATA[It is Labor Day. Many who have jobs are taking a break from the normal Monday workday. Of course, this does not apply to some –...]]></description><link>https://www.bethesdahouseal.org/post/reflecting-on-labor-day-and-the-labor-of-love</link><guid isPermaLink="false">5f567b6e02cfb7001714524c</guid><pubDate>Mon, 07 Sep 2020 18:29:26 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/56d39b_c230e2fd18384796b7e41e24f9be59f4~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Alison Jackson-Wood</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Independence Day in a Domestic Violence Shelter ]]></title><description><![CDATA[We are driving to an appointment. The streets are lined with flags and other reminders of the 4th of July holiday. The car is quiet until...]]></description><link>https://www.bethesdahouseal.org/post/independence-day-in-a-domestic-violence-shelter</link><guid isPermaLink="false">5f2adca7d848c7001742f86c</guid><pubDate>Wed, 05 Aug 2020 16:22:34 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Alison Jackson-Wood</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Covid-19 Thoughts Part II - Why Wear a Pesky Mask During a Pandemic?]]></title><description><![CDATA[“The Love Mask” The Bethesda House community operates from the premise that love is foundational for all of our actions. We believe that...]]></description><link>https://www.bethesdahouseal.org/post/covid-19-thoughts-part-ii-why-wear-a-pesky-mask-during-a-pandemic</link><guid isPermaLink="false">5f2adba1e8e75c0017533037</guid><pubDate>Wed, 05 Aug 2020 16:20:55 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/56d39b_cc3a3eb2553f44858d2872727dfde62e~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Alison Jackson-Wood</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Covid-19 Thoughts Part I - What Shelter Residents Know about Sheltering In ]]></title><description><![CDATA[While things are beginning to open back up after the quarantine, we at Bethesda House still encourage all who are returning to their...]]></description><link>https://www.bethesdahouseal.org/post/covid-19-thoughts-part-i-what-shelter-residents-know-about-sheltering-in</link><guid isPermaLink="false">5f2ad9a03d54440017977786</guid><pubDate>Wed, 05 Aug 2020 16:11:45 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/56d39b_ef6ab1af4b8c44ddb70f8174bef77486~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Alison Jackson-Wood</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>