FAYETTE COUNTY, WV (WOAY) – Southern West Virginia, especially rural parts, has a high rate of domestic violence and lower rates of people seeking help compared to more urban areas.
Yet leaving is the most dangerous time for victims, as the abuse may escalate.
That’s why having a safety plan is essential. AWAY (formerly the Women’s Resource Center) can help make that happen.
“For certain things they would need to gather when they’re preparing to leave that abusive relationship, contact us at our offices in Raleigh County (Beckley), Fayette County (Fayetteville), Nicholas County (Summersville), Summers County (Hinton), and we have a 24-hour hotline,” said Domestic Violence Victim Advocate Belinda Hopkins. “We’re always accessible.”
Often, victims hear, why didn’t they leave sooner. But if she or he leaves the abuser may have threatened to harm the family or kill the children, and only the victim knows the best time based on their abuser’s pattern.
“They use CPS a lot to say that they’re going to come take the children, because I’m going to tell them that you are a bad parent,” Hopkins said. “It places them in fear, and where they may not have resources or a job. So you’re thinking, ‘I have no other choice but to stay.”
Protect yourself in every way possible as you prepare to leave your abuser.
“They want to control where they go, what they do, who they’re with, how long they go somewhere, along with the money,” said the domestic violence victim advocate. “They may give them a certain amount and they can’t spend over that amount of money. It’s all about power and control.”
The Domestic Violence Awareness Project is proud to introduce its With Survivors, Always 2025 theme to explore what it means to be in safety, support, and solidarity with survivors. You are not alone. AWAY offers many resources.
“All they need to do is just give us a call. We’re here to support them in any way we can because they need that support,” Hopkins said. “They may not have support anywhere else. They may not have friends who support them. They may not have family. So we are here to be that support, that backbone for them.”
