DOVES program continues to provide services

Whether you’re a man or woman, young or old, dating or married, domestic violence can leave lasting impressions on anyone.

One in four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime and 24 people per minute are victims of physical violence or stalking. With services such as the DOVES Program, victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking in the Nebraska Panhandle can receive assistance.

Although there is no longer a DOVES office in Sidney, the program continues to provide 24-hour assistance for nine counties including Cheyenne County. With offices in Gering and Alliance, the program offers such things as immediate, ongoing and long-term support, emergency shelter, transportation assistance, hygiene, medical advocacy, a food pantry, education and awareness.

“We still provide the same things we did when we had a house in Sidney, it just appears different,” said Tabitha McCloud, a community outreach educator for the DOVES Program. “The first step for someone experiencing domestic violence in Sidney would be to call DOVES or e-mail us. Even if I’m in Scottsbluff, and I get a crisis call that someone needs shelter, I can get them a hotel room in Sidney and get them safe. Once they are safe, I am able to come down later or the next day and meet with them face to face to give them support and the more tangible things that they need.”

Mobile staff members and volunteers with DOVES are able to travel to each of the communities and counties once a week to meet with victims, clients or educate local groups.

McCloud said that DOVES provides the clients with options and that it’s up to the client to decide which route they are going to take. Giving control back to the victims to empower them to make their own decisions is something that the staff strives to accomplish.

“Everything is confidential and we provide the client with choices of what we can help them with,” she said. “We are really big about working from their strengths. We want to give power and strength that may have been taken away during an unhealthy relationship.”

McCloud said that many times, giving the control back to the victims can be scary or overwhelming because they may have been abused for a long time and haven’t had the freedom of making their own decisions.

There isn’t a set description for what domestic violence or dating violence looks like because it can include physical and mental abuse. Hitting, shoving, destroying property, isolation from family and friends, lack of trust, accusations and name-calling are only a few red flags in determining an unhealthy relationship.

“There are many different levels of abuse and the intensity of it, but many times it starts out as verbal and emotional abuse, “she said. “A lot of times the person being abused won’t even realize what they are experiencing or will brush it off.”

McCloud said that sometimes the media will depict relationships that aren’t actually healthy and younger generations will believe that that’s how partnerships or friendships are supposed to be.

She added that the domestic violence rates in this area of Nebraska are high and very severe.

“Honestly, I think the rates are high everywhere,” McCloud said. “I wouldn’t necessarily say that the rates are higher here than other places, but because of how much goes on here we definitely have our work cut out for us.”

Locals are able to give back and volunteer with DOVES. Volunteers are able to take training to help with the crisis hotline as well as provide information at community events and outreach groups.