Summertime means more mobility for just about everyone, and that is why a central Illinois domestic violence advocacy group is seeing an uptick in calls for services.

Andrea Kocher with Willow Tree Missions in Piatt County explains that while completely pinpointing the exact cause of the influx is difficult, the months of May, June, and July consistently experience a higher volume of service requests because the summer downtime allows victims to take the necessary steps to build a different life and safely separate from abusive environments before the upcoming school year begins.

According to Kocher, the absence of school schedules means family members spend significantly more time together inside the home. This lack of daily routines contributes to an increase in both the frequency and the overall severity of domestic violence instances.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence and needs assistance, please contact the Willow Tree Missions 24-hour support line at (217) 762-2350. Visit willowtreemissions.org or find them on Facebook.