Cannon County S.A.V.E.: Your Chance To Make A Difference

Tracey Neal


Have you noticed that you do not hang out with friends and family as you once did? You tell yourself you just do not have the time, because your home life comes first. At least that’s what he keeps reminding you.

It seems to get harder to come up with more and more excuses for the bruises you often have. People just won’t understand that it was your fault, … that you should have been more careful about making him upset. After all, you know how he gets. No one understands that he always apologizes afterwards. If only he didn’t love you so much…

Does this sound familiar? The problem is, a situation like this is not about love; it is about control. It is NOT your fault. When one person attempts to exert power and control over someone else in a relationship, it is abuse.

There are many types of abuse: physical, verbal, emotional, sexual, psychological. Any behavior which includes terrorizing, intimidating, hurting, blaming, or manipulating someone can start off slowly, and often does. Eventually, though, the victim feels trapped in a dangerous situation. People the victim would normally confide in were pushed away long ago. Domestic abuse doesn’t start with physical violence, but usually ends up that way.

Women are not the only victims. Over thirty percent of domestic violence victims are men. Seventy-four percent (74%) of all murder-suicides involve an intimate partner. Children are often the victims, either being abused themselves or observing it in their homes. Often, this leads these young victims to act out what they see on other students at school. It is estimated that ten million (10,000,000) children are exposed to domestic violence every year. One out of every 5 high schoolers has reported being abused in some way by a dating partner.

In Cannon County, there is a place where victims of domestic violence can seek help. Cannon County S.A.V.E. has assisted 290 clients between September 2008 and March 2010, and the list grows each day.

At SAVE, director Lisa Baird has written nearly one hundred orders of protection. Emotional support, court advocacy, and Orders of Protection are only the beginning of what Cannon County SAVE offers to those in need of assistance to get out of an abusive relationship.

SAVE helps with immediate clothing, food, and transitional housing needs. We also offer educational assistance and job training skills to help individuals recover their independence. We are in the process of trying to get a shelter, so that victims in our county have a safe haven to go to. We will go to court with the client, assist them with needs and/or counseling, help them achieve their GED, and be that person’s advocate.

All services to clients are free. We provide public education and training about domestic violence to the community, social service agencies, and law enforcement.

We are a 501(C)(3) not-for-profit dedicated to ending the cycle of domestic violence in our community. We believe all residents of our county, regardless of race, gender, class or religion deserves to be treated with care and dignity. We strive to eliminate the barriers victims are confronted with in seeking assistance and services for domestic violence. We work with victims in taking back their lives.

What we really need are funds. If you are a business or an individual who can help in any way, or if you know someone who can help, please feel free to contact Lisa @ 563-6690. If you are a victim of domestic violence who needs help, or know someone who is, call us. This is your chance to make a difference in someone’s life. Please help us help them.