SAVE Yourself: Domestic Violence Help Is Available

Domestic violence is unfortunately a very real problem today. The Cannon County SAVE program serves those affected by domestic violence in our community.

SAVE (Safety, Abuse & Violence Education Foundation) offers many kinds of support, free of charge, to their clients. Services include counseling, crisis intervention, legal support, and issuing orders of protection. The group also works to increase awareness of domestic violence.

"People think it's just a husband and wife problem but it affects all kinds of people -- children, men, the elderly," program Director Lisa Baird explains.

Although they receive no state or federal aid, SAVE is a registered 501 c3 non-profit organization. Their financial support mostly comes from private donations and fundraisers, while the rest comes from a few small grants.

Volunteers graciously donate their time to keep the organization functioning and many members of the community help support SAVE in less direct ways.

SAVE has been serving Cannon County since 2003. In the summer of 2008 Lisa Baird was appointed director and shortly thereafter the group moved into their office in the election commission building. The organization has since served over 150 clients including 55 orders of protection -- startling numbers for such a small community especially considering how many incidents likely go unreported.

The orders of protection are one of SAVE's common services. SAVE is actually the only place to get an OOP in Cannon County. These civil orders protect victims of domestic violence; if an order of protection is violated the offender can spend up to 10 days in jail before becoming eligible for bail.

SAVE continues to work with clients during and after an incident of domestic violence. They have helped families and individuals move, offered transition housing, and even some technology and vocational training the help foster independence. If a client's needs are beyond what SAVE can accommodate, the organization will help find the right assistance.

SAVE can be reached any time at 615.563.6690 or at their office 301 West Main Street, Woodbury, Tennessee 37190.