PEORIA (WEEK) — October 1 marks the beginning of Domestic Violence Prevention Month.
The month is meant to raise awareness of those fighting to get out of abusive situations and to honor the work being done by many organizations to help them.
The Center for Prevention of Abuse in Peoria says safety planning goes a long way toward getting out of a bad situation. That means having a safe room to go to in your home or having other places to spend the night.
CEO Carol Merna says the center offers many services free of charge to abuse victims.
“The first thing that we want survivors to know is we believe you, and that there are choices,” Merna said. “We are here for you even when it is hard to talk.”
Their services are for anyone, regardless of age, race, gender or how long ago the abuse happened. They include counseling and shelter, among other things.
If you need help, you can call their crisis hotline at 1-800-559-SAFE.
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