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DOVE Offers Encouragement to Domestic Violence Seeking to Escape Abusers

Victims of domestic violence often face a long road to not just recovery from the trauma brought by their abusers, but a long journey to simply escaping their abuser's grasp.

 

DOVE advocates say it can take on average seven tries for a victim to escape their abusers. Jennifer Tolladay with DeWitt County DOVE says in rural areas there can be a lack of resources for victims. Andrea Kocher with Piatt County DOVE indicates they often see a lot of victims tied financially to their abusers.

 

 

DOVE and domestic violence agencies like theirs encourage victims to make a plan. Tolladay says a starting place is to have contacts you can reach in times of trouble and try to have safe words to indicate distress. Kocher says a lot of victims think an order of protection is all they have to do and sometimes that isn't the case.

 

 

When it comes to leaving, Tolladay says just like the abuser knows you as well as you know yourself, you know your abuser that same way. She implores leave at a time that gives you the most time to get out. Kocher notes you might consider finding a safe place your abuse doesn't know about. 

 

 

Kocher and Tolladay see a lot of coworkers of victims bringing them in for services and unsurprisingly, the workplace can be a safe place, especially if the abuse has caused a scene in that environment. 

 

Doveinc.org has more resources for victims in central Illinois. 

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