You Are Not Alone

Safehouse staff would like to extend their empathy and support to you during this very emotional and confusing time. We want to make sure that you understand that you are not alone. Safehouse provides advocacy and shelter services to victims in Crawford, Montgomery, Linn, Bourbon, Cherokee, Labette, and Wilson counties in Southeast Kansas. Our services are free, confidential, and voluntary. We are not here to make decisions for you, but to help you to make informed choices and provide you with support and resources during your time of need.

If you have been directed to this page, you have likely been the victim of domestic or sexual violence. Please take the time to read this information and reach out for help if you haven’t already. Safehouse advocates are ready and willing to help you establish a plan to aid your success in living a life free of violence for the sake of your life and the lives of your children and pets.

Staff are available for crisis intervention 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Connect with our staff at 1-800-794-9148.

Agency Services

• 24-Hour Crisis Hotline
• Temporary Emergency Shelter
• Crisis Intervention Advocacy
• Individual Support Counseling
• Victim Support Groups
• Therapy
• Medical Advocacy
• Legal Advocacy
• Children/Youth Services
• Law Enforcement Advocacy.
  And more

What Does Abuse Look Like?

Abuse doesn’t always leave a mark. Below is what advocates refer to as the “Power and Control Wheel”, a model used to differentiate and identify different modes of abuse used to create a dangerous imbalance.

Copyright by the Domestic Abuse Intervention Project
202 East Superior Street, Duluth, MN, 55802
218-722-2781

Safety Planning

Safety Planning for yourself and/or your family is important. Here are some steps you can take:

• Increase security at home by changing/adding locks and by adding outdoor lighting, security systems and smoke detectors.
• Include only trusted persons in your safety plan and check in with them on regular intervals.
• Change phone numbers and carry your cell phone with you (most cell phones can dial 911 even without a service plan).
• Inform your supervisor or work security if possible. They can walk you to your car after work and monitor parking areas.
• Create code words or actions for your children, family, and friends to alert them something is wrong.
• Set up a password system with the school about who is safe to pick up your children.
• Designate safe places to meet in the event you and your children get separated. Keep a bag with extra keys, money, medications, and copies of important documents in a safe and quickly accessible location.

If You Leave

If you leave, take these items with you:

• Important documents such as marriage and driver’s license, birth certificates, social security cards, work permit, green card, passport or visa, insurance papers, protection order, and any other legal or personal paperwork you will need
• Money, checkbook, credit and ATM cards
• Keys to your house, car, office, etc.
• Medications, glasses, hearing aids, etc.
• Personal items such as address book, pictures, toys, etc.

Protection Orders 101

Kansas Crimes Victims Bill of Rights

Know your legal rights as a victim of violence in the state of Kansas:

Pursuant to K.S.A 74-7333, as amended, a crime victim has the following rights in Kansas

1. Victims should be treated with courtesy, compassion, and respect for their dignity and privacy and should suffer the minimum of necessary inconveniences from their involvement with the criminal justice system 2. Victims should receive, through formal and informal procedures, prompt and fair redress for the harm
   which they suffered
2. Information regarding the availability of criminal restitution, recovery of damages in civil cause action, the
   crime victims compensation fund and other remedies and the mechanisms to obtain such remedies should be made available to victims
3. Information should be made available to victims should be ascertained and the appropriate assistance
   provided throughout the scheduling, progress, and ultimate disposition of the proceedings
4. The views and concerns of victims should be ascertained, and the appropriate assistance provided
   throughout the criminal process
5. When the personal interest of victims is affected, the view of concern of the victim should, when
   appropriate be consistent with criminal law and procedure, be brought to the attention of the court Measures may be taken when necessary to provide the safety of victims and their families and to protect them from intimidation and retaliation
6. Enhanced training should be made available to sensitive criminal justice personnel to the needs and
   concerns of victims and guidelines should be developed for this purpose
7. Victims should be informed of the availability of health and social services and other relevant assistance
   that they might continue to receive the necessary medical, psychological, and social assistance through existing programs and services
8. Victims should report the crime and cooperate with law enforcement authorities

Now What?

Help is just a phone call away. Connect with our staff at 1-800-794-9148 to talk about the next steps. We are here to support you.