A 16 year old girl living inside a polygamist compound in Eldorado reached out for help by calling a local family shelter in West Texas. The call was instrumental in the discovery of serious allegations of the physical and sexual abuse of children. “Calling the local shelter was an extremely courageous move on the young girl’s part” stated Sheryl Cates, CEO, National Domestic Violence Hotline (NDVH) and the Texas Council on Family Violence (TCFV). Cates urged all victims of domestic and sexual abuse to contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline for help. “Domestic abuse”, said Cates, “is intolerable, unacceptable and should be viewed by all as an assault on the very fabric of our families.”
The National Domestic Violence Hotline is available to all citizens involved in intimate partner abuse situations. The Hotline, staffed by trained advocates, is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year. Hotline Advocates can immediately connect all callers to local resources, including local shelters, and provide support, assistance, referral and someone to talk to in over 170 languages.
Individuals involved in abusive relationships can get direct assistance by calling the Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or go on line to : www.ndvh.org