Are you a victim of domestic abuse?  Have you tried everything you could think of to make it stop, and nothing has worked?  Have you felt powerless and alone, afraid to go to the police or to even talk to anyone about the abuse?  If so, you might be in luck.  For the next six weeks, you'll be able to visit an abusive relationship help center in West Virginia and get advice, coaching, counseling and emotional support to help you get away from your abuser.

The center was set up in response to the tragic murder of Carol Smedley, who was beaten to death by her boyfriend after she left an abusive relationship.  After Smedley's death, a number of legislators worked with the governor and the Department of Health and Human Resources to develop a center that would provide crisis intervention, emergency shelter, legal and financial support and a host of other services to help abused women get out of abusive relationships. 

The center will also provide a link to information about legal resources and shelters, and a 24/7 phone hotline for abused women and their families who need help and want to stay in West Virginia.

"This legislation is a milestone for the state of West Virginia because it gives abused women an alternative to leaving for another state," said