(ARA) - In an age of social media and reality shows, it seems that people are more open than ever to discuss personal issues. Yet one important issue - domestic violence, which touches more than 70 percent of Americans, is often talked about behind closed doors or never discussed at all.

To break the silence, Academy Award-winning actress Mira Sorvino is joining forces with The Allstate Foundation to encourage Americans to Tell a Gal P.A.L. to talk for a change about domestic violence.

The Tell a Gal P.A.L. campaign was designed to help Americans Pass it On, Act and Learn (P.A.L.) to start the conversation:

Pass It On - Talk freely about domestic violence to break the taboo. Tell others that economic abuse is a part of domestic violence.

Act - Never underestimate how small acts, like listening, can make a big difference.

Learn - Empower yourself with knowledge and resources available to help yourself, or someone you know, out of an abusive relationship.

"From my volunteer work helping women who have been victimized to my selection of movie roles, I'm committed to raising awareness about this issue," says Sorvino, who portrays a battered woman in an upcoming movie drama scheduled for release in 2010. "I joined The Allstate Foundation's Tell a Gal P.A.L. campaign because I believe it's imperative that we work together to empower women to speak up and find the help they need to free themselves from abuse."

Visitors to The Allstate Foundation Web site, ClickToEmpower.org, can share personal stories about how they or someone they know overcame abuse, or even how they served as a gal pal to a friend in need. The stories aim to serve as inspiration to learn about domestic violence, continue the conversation with others, or provide encouragement to take the first step out the door. Other ways to Tell a Gal P.A.L. about domestic violence are available on the Web site through Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

As part of the Tell a Gal P.A.L. campaign, The Allstate Foundation continues its efforts to shed light on a hidden aspect of domestic violence economic abuse, which occurs when abusers control victims' finances in an effort to prevent them from leaving. A recent national poll released by The Allstate Foundation found that nearly eight out of 10 Americans link the term economic abuse to Wall Street woes or irresponsible spending instead of control tactics such as ruining a partner's credit score on purpose.
 
"We are helping survivors who often find themselves with limited means for daily survival, let alone the means to get back into the workforce and attain financial security," says Jennifer Kuhn, Economics Against Abuse program manager, The Allstate Foundation. "As a Fortune 100 company, we see an opportunity to leverage our financial services expertise to impact survivors of economic abuse."

The Allstate Foundation, in partnership with the National Network to End Domestic Violence, recently developed a Financial Empowerment Curriculum to help victims achieve financial independence. It includes financial tools and information designed to enable survivors of domestic abuse to fully understand their financial circumstances, as well as engage in short-term and long-term planning (e.g., budgeting tools, step-by-step planners, tips, etc.) to accomplish their personal goals.

More information on Tell a Gal P.A.L. and the Financial Empowerment Curriculum is available at www.ClickToEmpower.org. Domestic violence survivors in need of immediate assistance are encouraged to call The National Domestic Violence Hotline, (800) 799-SAFE (800-799-7233).

Courtesy of ARAcontent