Skip to main content

Update from the Domestic Violence Program


A victim of domestic violence faces many challenges, however, during these times with COVID-19, they are faced with even more barriers.  Those who are living at home with their abuser during these times during the “stay at home, stay safe” order is not a safe option.   For them, they are literally staying at home and trying to survive.



As we expected, calls are beginning to surge, as we knew there would be a spike in requests for services.  For the first couple of weeks into the stay at home order, calls were normal, and in fact, down.  However, the last couple of weeks, they are beginning to significantly increase. 



For victims of domestic violence, their abusers take this opportunity to inflict their power and control even more so, due to the pandemic, especially for those victims who may have recently left their abusive relationship just prior to the stay at home order, and now the abuser is contacting them and making empty promises that they have changed, begging them to return home, and taking advantage of trying to push the right buttons to persuade their partner they need them and promising them how things will be different.  For many, their financial situation is another barrier that keeps them from being away from their abuser. 



For children – with schools closing and them not having access to their teachers, coaches, social workers to confide in (all of whom are mandated reporters), they are not seeing children in person to be able to notice the signs of abuse to in fact report it.



Since March 17th through June 9th, Dove’s Domestic Violence Program has assisted in 84 Emergency Orders of Protection and have placed 16 adults and 6 children in off-site shelter.  Staff have continued to answer all 5 of our 24-hour hotlines in all of our counties – Macon, Moultrie, Piatt, Shelby and DeWitt.   In addition to off-site shelter and legal advocacy pertaining to order of protection assistance, we have provided safety planning, crisis and telephone counseling, information and referrals.



For anyone in need of services who is a victim of domestic violence, call 217.423.2238 for Macon County; 217.935.6072 for DeWitt County; 217.728.9334 for Moultrie County; 217.762.2122 for Piatt County; and 217.774.4888 for Shelby County. 



Teri Ducy, Director

Dove Domestic Violence Program

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

You don't have to be able to Dance to do Baskets

  Growing up in the world of dance, one of my favorite things to do each year is participate in The Nutcracker Ballet. My favorite part? Giving the audience a magical Christmas experience with the perfect setting of lights, music, glittery costumes, and refined steps by ballerinas. The audience is transported to a magical land of sweets that makes even adults feel like small children in awe and wonder. Of course, that’s just what the audience sees! What they don’t see is the months and months before hand! Long rehearsals, bandage wrapped dance feet, and stage and tech crews working tirelessly so that every detail before the final show is perfected. After several years, I have started comparing the Christmas Baskets Process to that of the process for The Nutcracker Ballet. Starting months and months before, staff and volunteers work endlessly for the exhilarating distribution week to come. With that said, the magical essence of the Ballet experience cannot happen with just the prim
Post a Comment
Read more

“have you talked to a trained domestic violence advocate?"

Have you ever had a victim of domestic violence try and open-up to you about their abuse and you not know what to say or how to handle it? Have you found yourself asking a victim of domestic violence, “why do you stay?” Moultrie County Dove Office understands that without being properly trained on domestic violence and best domestic violence practices, it is hard to know what to say or do when a victim of domestic violence finally decides to open-up to you about their abuse and we want you to be better prepared. Asking a victim of domestic violence “why do you stay” can place emphasis in the wrong place and make the victim feel as if they have done something wrong. In all actuality, there are many reasons victims of domestic violence stay in and return to abusive relationships. Victims of domestic violence stay in abusive relationships for fear for their personal safety and the safety and well-being of their children. Statistics show that a victim of domestic violence is at a 75%
Post a Comment
Read more

Doing our part to make a difference.

 With so much talk everywhere on issues of violence, once again a topic discussed at the CONO (Coalition Of Neighborhood Organizations) meeting this past month in wonder of how to stop violence from happening in our community. Let’s consider narrowed down, violence begins in neighborhoods, no matter where they are. Cities including Decatur, have Stop The Violence campaigns and rallies in order to take a stand and to bring positivity and hope which is so important! But I wonder, doesn’t the remedy lay within each one of us? We must not close our eyes or turn a deaf ear, right, and when we see something, yes, we must say something, but isn’t there more? Doesn’t there need to be hands reaching out to one another in solidarity and hope with a goal in mind like the future of our family, neighborhood and ultimately our world. It begins in a neighborhood, your neighborhood and mine. So, if you don’t already have an active neighborhood group in your area, will you consider starting one? If so
Post a Comment
Read more