What is Domestic Violence? According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), Domestic Violence is the willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault, and/or other abusive behavior as a systematic pattern of power and control perpetrated by one intimate partner against another.
The SOS advocates and helpline staff have witnessed heart-breaking situations; however, they have also seen first-hand success stories as individuals are able to find their own power and self-worth. One SOS Advocate received this testimonial from a woman who had experienced some very serious domestic abuse:
“I just want to say that I’m really glad I called you. Everybody kept telling me to call SOS, and I was like ‘No Way! I’ve been in the foster care system and seen many therapists. SOS is just one more person that’s going to judge me and tell me what to do.’ Eventually I realized I have nothing to lose. He is going to kill me. So, I called SOS and I talked to you. You were so real, and you totally didn’t judge me. You provided me with a judge free zone and showed support in whatever I wanted to do. And even when I said I was tempted to go back to the guy who tried to kill me, you said ‘I’m here for you. Let’s make a safety plan.’ That’s when I realized, okay this girl really has my back. You hooked me up with the Court Advocate too and she was just as cool. She let me talk and talk and talk. Through this process I started to think ‘Man, this isn’t okay - none of this is okay.’ I’m so glad I have you guys. And now I tell everybody, CALL SOS!”
At SOS, our mission is to empower and advocate for victims. We are here to listen, to provide resources, and give you options. If you are in need of immediate help, we have a shelter that can provide you a safe place to go. We can assist with legal documents such as Protection from Abuse (PFA), and guidance with court processes. When the abuser is someone you care about, it can be very hard to end the relationship; it gets more difficult if there are children and/or pets involved. The severity of abuse increases significantly once the victims tries to leave. If you are not ready to leave, or do not feel safe to do so, we can help you develop a safety plan. We want you to be safe and we will continue to offer support as long as you need it.
Help SOS prevent domestic violence by educating yourself and spreading awareness. We offer a variety of resources and information on our website (www.soskansas.com). If you would like to request specific information for your class, group or event, please contact us at 620-343-8799 or email info@soskansas.com.
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