The financial side of domestic abuse

When people think about domestic abuse, the same situations come up.

A beating by a spouse.

A frantic 911 call that leads to an episode with the police at a home.

Or neglect and verbal abuse that results in lowered self-esteem.

But one aspect of domestic abuse often gets overlooked: financial control.

"This is the No. 1 reason we see women who do not take the step to leave," said Linda Healy, the executive director of Mutual Ground in Aurora. "They say 'If I have to take a beating every so number of weeks to put a roof over (children's) heads, I will do it.'"

On Friday, Mutual Ground and the Elgin Community Crisis Center will receive donations of $2,500 each from the Allstate Foundation at the Kane County Cougars minor league baseball game at Elfstrom Stadium in Geneva.

Mutual Ground offers services that help victims of domestic violence learn to live self-sufficiently through counseling, shelter, parenting classes and prevention education. An aspect Mutual Ground focuses on is financial empowerment. Throughout the year, they conduct three 16-week budget management classes.

"You never know who's in there and where the light bulb is going to go off," Healy said. "So many women don't see that as abuse."

Officials from the crisis centers will be on hand at the Cougars game to promote awareness of domestic violence and the financial restrictions victims often face. The baseball crowd gives the groups a chance to reach a segment of the community not always easy to reach.

According to the Family Violence Prevention Fund, nearly one-third of American women have been abused.

Because of a reduction in federal funding, Healy said donations and events such as Friday's are "extremely important" in helping groups like Mutual Ground continue to offer their services.

Allstate Foundation will help promote awareness at five games across the country as part of a financial empowerment program launched in January.

Jennifer Duda, Allstate's senior communications consultant, said minor league baseball helps the company reach a new audience.

"Most minor league stadiums aren't in your large cities," she said. "They are in more suburban communities, folks we don't reach on a regular basis."