If you are being abused it is important that you get away from the scene of the abuse. Not long ago a woman called me. She wanted to sue a local police department for the death of her sister. who had been in a violent relationship and sought a protective order from the court. Shortly after the police came out to investigate a fight between the abuser and the abused woman. Instead of arresting him on the protective order as they should have done, they gave him a "talking to" and told him to stay away from the woman. The following day, she received a call that the abuser was at the hospital and needed a ride home. The last time she was seen alive was on the hospital videotape. Later that night she was found dead near the home of her abuser's sister. This will be a very difficult wrongful death case to make against the police because in the final analysis, the woman put herself in danger.
People who abuse are most likely to inflict deadly violence when they know you plan to leave. Once you make the decision to leave, get to a shelter and stay out of the path of the abuser. If you need to escape domestic violence, seek shelter. Your whereabouts will be kept confidential. Metro Atlanta area shelters include the ones listed below.
Athens
Project Safe, Inc.
Crisis Line: (706) 543-3331
Atlanta
Partnership Against Domestic Violence,
Inc.
Crisis Line: (404) 873-1766
Carrollton
Carroll County Emergency Shelter, Inc.
Crisis Line: (770) 834-1141
Clayton
Fight Abuse in the Home (FAITH), Inc.
Crisis Line: (888) 782-1338
Columbus
Columbus Alliance for Battered Women, Inc.
Crisis Line: (706) 571-0188
Conyers
Project Renewal Domestic Violence
Intervention Program, Inc.
Crisis Line: (770) 860-1666
Decatur
International Women's House, Inc.
Crisis Line: (404) 299-1550
Decatur
Women's Resource Center to End
Domestic Violence, Inc. (Women Moving On)
Crisis Line: (404) 688-9436
Douglasville
S.H.A.R.E. House, Inc.
Crisis Line: (770) 489-7513
Gainesville
Gateway House, Inc.
Crisis Line: (770) 536-5860
Lawrenceville
Partnership Against Domestic Violence,Inc.
Crisis Line: (770) 963-9799
Macon
Macon Salvation Army Safe House
Crisis Line: (478) 738-9800
Marietta
YWCA of Northwest Georgia
Crisis Line: (770) 427-3390
McDonough
Flint Circuit Council on Family
Violence, Inc. (Haven House)
Crisis Line: (770) 954-9229
Morrow
Association on Battered Women of
Clayton County, Inc. (Securus House)
Crisis Line: (770) 961-7233
Warner Robins
Warner Robins Salvation Army
Crisis Line: (478) 923-6294
Winder
Peace Place, Inc.
Crisis Line: (770) 586-0927
For a more shelters in Georgia for survivors of domestic violence, visit
http://www.gadfcs.org/familyviolence/startdocs/service_area_map.pdf
or
http://www.gcadv.org/pdf/DHR_Shelters.pdf
Monday, April 14, 2008
Monday, April 7, 2008
Avoiding Baby's Mama and Baby's Daddy Drama
1. Establish paternity early in the child's life. A DNA test is always in order and can be done when the child is only a month old.
2. Seek support early in the child's life. Generally, a court will not order retroactive (back) child support.
3. Delay parenting until you know your partner well. Having children is the most important step a couple takes. The responsiblity lasts for a lifetime.
4. Put the child's interests first. Don't degrade the other parent in the child's presence. Encourage visitation. Stay in touch with your child - by email or phone calls if necessary.
5. Always keep a written record of child support payments made and received. Get receipts, use money orders or checks. Pay by automatic debit or income deduction order to avoid late/missing payments.
6. Make sure your new spouse/significant other understands and accepts your obligations to your child.
7. Keep the lines of communication open. Treat the other party like a business associate. Be courteous, forthright, to the point. Don't give, accept or expect favors (or "benefits") in exchange for child support or visitation.
8. Use birth control until you are sure you are ready (emotionally, spiritually, finacially, physically) for another child.
2. Seek support early in the child's life. Generally, a court will not order retroactive (back) child support.
3. Delay parenting until you know your partner well. Having children is the most important step a couple takes. The responsiblity lasts for a lifetime.
4. Put the child's interests first. Don't degrade the other parent in the child's presence. Encourage visitation. Stay in touch with your child - by email or phone calls if necessary.
5. Always keep a written record of child support payments made and received. Get receipts, use money orders or checks. Pay by automatic debit or income deduction order to avoid late/missing payments.
6. Make sure your new spouse/significant other understands and accepts your obligations to your child.
7. Keep the lines of communication open. Treat the other party like a business associate. Be courteous, forthright, to the point. Don't give, accept or expect favors (or "benefits") in exchange for child support or visitation.
8. Use birth control until you are sure you are ready (emotionally, spiritually, finacially, physically) for another child.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Listen to "Sisters in Law" with Porsche Foxx on Atlanta's Big Station - WVEE every Monday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. 103.3-FM. Every week the sisters in law, Janice and Davida Mathis, answer your legal questions on the air. If you'd like to suggest a topic, simply email Janicelmathis@aol.com.
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