Is there a way to prevent-and stop-violence and abuse in intimate relationships? This book, the first in a series aimed at helping readers better understand domestic abuse, explores how that information can be used to teach readers to make positive choices about their own physical and emotional safety and the physical and emotional safety of their children.Gary Kirby's long-term goal is to eradicate domestic abuse, so that no child is forced to witness violence or abuse of any kind or feel the need to cover their ears to drown out the screams. As a society, we aren't doing a great job of accomplishing that goal. But, there is hope.An Ounce of Prevention explores: Understanding and recognizing violence and abuse in intimate relationshipsReviewing the Cycle of ViolenceUnderstanding the characteristics of violent and abusive individualsUnderstanding the characteristics of an abused individualDeveloping safety plans to keep themselves and their children out of harms wayHelping others who may be in violent or abusive relationshipsPersonal experiences and insights of the author to relay information and add clarificationIt's known that children growing up in violent and abusive homes are at risk of repeating that behaviour in their future relationships - they may become the perpetrators of violence and abuse, or they may become victims of violence and abuse. To end that repeating cycle, we need to put past assumptions (that violence and abuse in intimate relationships is only about power and control) aside and focus on understanding what has happened in a person's life to cause the violent or abusive behaviour in their current relationships. We need to empower positive change.Through this, and future books, it can be believed that with this deeper understanding we, as a society, will be better able to assess the types and scope of services required to deal with violence and abuse that may one day lead to reducing the violence and abuse we now see in intimate relationships.