IF YOU ARE BEING ABUSED
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Domestic Violence Hotline:
800.621.HOPE (4673) -
Crime Victims Hotline:
866.689.HELP (4357) -
Rape & Sexual Assault Hotline:
212.227.3000 -
TDD Phone Number for all hotlines:
800.810.7444
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Before ANYTHING ELSE if you or your kids are being abused ;BREAK THE SILENCE !
If you can, leave and go to a safe place. NOW.
This can be anywhere the abuser can't find you or where you and your children will be protected. Transition Houses are good choices for a safe place to go. Never leave without taking your kids.
•If you can, call the police or ask someone to call them for you.
• If you are in immediate danger dial 911.. You have the right to report an assault to the police.
• If you can, call a support line: This is the National Domestic Abuse Support Line :
1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
1-800-787-3224 (TTY)
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See your doctor or go to a hospital
• You can choose to see a Doctor or go to the hospital regarding your injuries without making a police report.
• If you choose to file a police report, all injuries need to be reported and documented.
• You need to make sure your injuries, or those of your children, are not serious or life threatening.
See a Lawyer
• You may need to get a restraining order.
• You may need to get an interim custody order.
• You need to know your rights.
Gather as many of these things as you can and take them with you.
□ Legal documents:
Marriage license, divorce or separation
Papers, custody agreements, court orders
□ Driver’s license or photo identification
□ Birth certificates:
Yours and your children's
□ Passports:
Yours and your children's
□ Immigration papers:
Yours and your children's
□ Social Security Cards
Yours and your children's
□ Money, check book, credit cards
□ Bank book, bank statement
□ Lease, rental agreement, house deed
□ House keys, car keys, safety deposit box
Key , car title
□ Address book, phone numbers , including info. about friends, family members and
Others who may be able to offer you support
□ Medications, medical records:
Yours and your children's
*It is not your fault or your kids fault.
The abuser is the one with the problem*
*When I left my home with my daughter to escape an abusive husband , I didn't want to go to a shelter . I was afraid of what it would be like. I moved in with different friends instead. My friends were really kind and helpful , but it did put alot of pressure and stress on everybody.
I look back and think that I should have done it differently. A shelter would have had all the things my daughter and I needed at the time : counseling , help with what to do next , other women and kids who could relate., and a place to stay at least for a while (we lived with 5 different families. They were wonderful , but kind of passed us around from family to family -we all knew each other and everybody wanted to help.This gave everybody a chance to help , but left my daughter and I with an even more lost feeling.) -Editor -Kamammas*
Shelters help find the light in the midst of a storm.
If you are afraid of going to a shelter , don't be. They have heard every story in the book .
Here is an idea of what it will be like :
SHELTER TOUR
Have more questions about abuse ? Go to this site and look on the left side bar.
WINGS PROGRAM RESOURCES
More links :
YWCA of Kalamazoo
353 E. Michigan Ave.
Kalamazoo, MI 49007-3832
Web address: http://www.ywcakalamazoo.org
Domestic Violence Crisis Line: (269) 385-3587
Sexual Assault Crisis Line: (269) 345-3036
Counties Served: Kalamazoo
Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Services
