Get Help

​Asking for help isn't easy, and knowing where to turn can be even more challenging.  Our victim advocates are available to answer our crisis line 24 hours if you need help, support, resources, or just an understanding person to listen.  If you or someone you know is thinking about leaving an abusive relationship, please read the important safety information below.

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In an emergency:

• Call 9-1-1
• Seek medical attention if needed​
• Go to a safe place such as a friend's or family member's house, a hospital, or a hotel.
• Once you are in a safe place to talk, call our crisis line​ ​(970) 356-4226 

Safety Planning

A safety plan is a personalized, practical plan that includes ways to remain safe while in a relationship, planning to leave, or after you leave. No two victims/survivors face identical risks, and only a victim/survivor can truly assess the severity of their situation and know which strategies will be most effective for their situation. Below are a few tips and strategies that may work for you.
​For more information, please call our 24-hour crisis line, and an advocate will be ready to plan with you. 

Planning for an emergency:

• ​Pack an emergency bag in case you need to leave in a hurry. Pack your important documents such as your ID and birth certificate, a change of clothing, a second set of keys, a phone charger, a list of important numbers/addresses, cash, and medications. 
• If possible, have a phone accessible at all times and know what numbers to call for help.  Make sure your location is off.​

General safety tips: 

• Record abusive incidents with as much detail as possible. Include dates, times, the sequence of events, and any injuries. It is best to keep this record in a location your partner does not have access to. 
• Create several plausible reasons for why you need to leave at any given time that you can use to leave an escalating situation. 
• Confide in a supportive friend or neighbor. Create a safe word with that individual, which can mean they should call the police, call you, or any other plan that is appropriate for your situation. 

Preparing to Leave

Make a plan for how and where you will escape quickly. Choose a time when your partner is at work, at an appointment, or otherwise occupied. You may request a police escort or stand-by when you leave. Use the following list of items as a guide for packing. Remember, our advocates can help you come up with a personalized safety plan for leaving.

• ​Identification: Driver's licenses, birth certificates, social security cards, passports, permanent resident cards, work permits, green cards, visas, etc...
• Finances: Cash, debit and credit cards (in your name), checking and/or savings account books.
• Legal information: Protection orders, copies of any lease or rental agreements, car registration and insurance, health and life insurance, medical records, school records, divorce, child custody and/or marriage license records.
• Emergency Numbers: Local police and/or sheriff’s department, local domestic violence program or shelter, friends, family members, local doctor’s office and hospital, county and/or district attorney’s office.
• Other: Medications, house and car keys, valuable jewelry, pay-as-you-go cell phone, pictures, sentimental items, several changes of clothes, kids' school necessities, pet food and care items.

Protect Yourself From Stalking

Persistent and frequent unwanted contact from a current or former partner via phone, computer, friends, family, or even GPS tracking systems can range from being annoying and invasive to traumatic and deadly. The more determined and obsessed stalkers become, the more likely they are to use multiple communication channels to contact and/or find out detailed information about their victims.

​ Safety tips: 

• Document and report stalking incidents to law enforcement as they occur. Save and print (when possible) voice messages, texts, emails, social media posts and other evidence.
• Minimize the amount of information you share online, such as your last name, date of birth and any information that may indicate your physical address, workplace and geographic location.
• Turn off location services on your computer, smartphone, tablet and other devices.  If you are unsure how to do this, contact the manufacturer or service provider for detailed instructions.
• Avoid posting on social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and LinkedIn.
• Avoid posting on public forum websites such as Reddit and Yelp.
• Google yourself.  If photographs and other content show up in a search with identifying information about you that you did not publish, reach out to those sources and ask them to remove it for your safety.
• Ensure that your computer and mobile devices have updated anti-spyware software installed and activated.
• Ensure your wireless hub/router has security turned on.
• Do not access private accounts, or send/receive private information when using public Wi-Fi networks.
• Ask friends, family, co-workers and other members of groups to which you belong to avoid tagging and publishing your name, contact information, photographs and other identifying content online.