West Virginia Domestic Violence Help & Simple Safety Plans

Resource lists and actionable safety planning tools for survivors in West Virginia.

West Virginia Safety and Resource Toolkit

1. First Steps: What To Do Now

These options focus on immediate safety, basic documentation, and quiet planning in West Virginia.

1.1 Quick Personal Safety Check

• Identify the safest room or area in your home:
  • Closest to an exit
  • Away from weapons (including guns, knives, tools)
  • If possible, with a lock or a door you can block
• Plan small safety actions you can use quickly:
  • Keep keys in one consistent, fast-to-grab place
  • Keep a charged phone somewhere you can reach it quickly
  • Decide on a code word or phrase to use with a trusted person if you need help
• Consider a backup exit plan:
  • Primary exit: front or back door
  • Secondary exit: window, porch, or other route
  • Safe place you could walk or drive to within 10–20 minutes

1.2 Quietly Preparing a Safety Bag

If it is safe to do so, consider gathering items over time rather than all at once.

• Identification:
  • Photo ID (yours and children’s if possible)
  • Social Security cards or numbers
  • Birth certificates (copies if originals are hard to access)
• Money and basics:
  • Small amount of cash (even a few dollars is useful in rural areas with limited ATMs)
  • Debit or credit card if you have one in your name
  • Any fuel cards or gas station gift cards
• Health items:
  • Prescription medications for at least a few days
  • Important medical information (allergies, conditions)
  • Health insurance cards
• Communication and access:
  • Cheap prepaid phone, if possible, kept separate from your main phone
  • List of important numbers written on paper:
    • Trusted friends or family
    • Local advocacy program or shelter
    • Workplace or school contacts
  • Spare keys (home, car, work, storage unit)
• Children’s items (if relevant):
  • Comfort item (small toy, blanket)
  • Basic school items (homework, Chromebook/tablet, charger if possible)

1.3 Quiet Documentation and Evidence Gathering

If it is safe and legal to do so, some people choose to document what is happening in case they later work with advocates, attorneys, or the courts.

• Write short, factual notes:
  • Date, time, location
  • What happened in neutral language
  • Whether children or others were present
• Consider saving:
  • Threatening or harassing texts, emails, or messages
  • Call logs showing repeated or late-night calls
  • Photos of property damage or visible injuries (no graphic detail needed)
• Back up safely:
  • Email copies to a new email account the abusive person does not know
  • Store on a secure cloud service if you use one
  • Or print and store with a trusted person

2. West Virginia Community Programs and Shelters

West Virginia has community-based domestic violence programs and shelters that offer confidential support, emergency housing, and safety planning. Services may vary by location.

2.1 How WV Domestic Violence Programs Typically Help

• Emergency shelter or short-term safe housing
• Safety planning (in-person or by phone)
• Information about protective orders and local court processes
• Advocacy with law enforcement, courts, or social services
• Support with basic needs (transportation, hygiene items, clothing)
• Connections to longer-term housing, employment, or benefits resources

2.2 Finding a WV Shelter or Advocate Near You

Options to locate services include:

• Statewide and regional domestic violence coalitions
• Local community action agencies or family resource centers
• Hospital social work departments or rural health clinics
• Clergy or faith-based outreach familiar with local programs
• County social services offices that know local shelter contacts

Some national and regional directories, including resources listed at https://www.dv.support, maintain up-to-date links to West Virginia domestic violence programs.

2.3 Questions to Ask a WV Shelter or Program

When you call, you can ask practical questions to see what fits your situation:

• Accessibility and location:
  • “Are you located in my county or a different county?”
  • “Is your location on a bus line or accessible without a car?”
  • “How do people usually get to your shelter from rural areas?”
• Space and policies:
  • “Do you currently have space?”
  • “Do you accept children, teens, or young adult sons?”
  • “Do you allow pets, or can you help with pet boarding options?”
  • “What is your policy if I return to my partner?”
• Confidentiality:
  • “How do you protect my identity and information?”
  • “What situations would require you to share information with others?”
• Practical support:
  • “Can you help with rides or transportation assistance?”
  • “Do you help with paperwork, benefits, or court accompaniment?”

2.4 Preparing to Call or Visit a WV Program

• Decide how you will contact them:
  • Personal phone, a friend’s phone, or a work phone
  • Public Wi‑Fi or library computer for online searches
• Think about what you feel safe sharing:
  • Whether the abusive person has access to your phone or call logs
  • Whether they monitor your social media or email
• Have basic details ready (only if safe to share):
  • Approximate location or county in West Virginia
  • Number of people needing shelter (you, children, others)
  • Any urgent medical or disability-related needs

3. Rural Escape Planning in West Virginia

Rural areas in West Virginia can present specific challenges: limited cell service, long distances, rough roads, and fewer neighbors. Planning with these conditions in mind can increase safety options.

3.1 Mapping Safe Routes and Locations

• Identify possible safe destinations:
  • Trusted friend or family member in a different area or county
  • Nearby town with more services (hospital, police, DV program)
  • 24‑hour locations such as some gas stations or truck stops
• Plan at least two routes:
  • Main route (highway or main road)
  • Backup route (secondary roads if main road is blocked or unsafe)
• Consider travel conditions:
  • Weather (snow, ice, heavy rain, flooding in hollows or near rivers)
  • Road surfaces (gravel, one-lane roads, unlit areas)
  • Times of day with less traffic or attention

3.2 Vehicle and Transportation Planning

If a vehicle is available, small preparations can make it more usable in an emergency.

• Vehicle readiness:
  • Try to keep the gas tank at least half full when possible
  • Store a basic kit:
    • Blanket or extra clothing layer
    • Flashlight and batteries
    • Phone charger that fits your device
  • Park for a quick exit when safe to do so (not blocked in)
• Keys and control:
  • Keep a spare key hidden in a safe, secret place or with a trusted person
  • If the abusive person tracks mileage or fuel use, plan small, explainable trips to test routes
• If you do not have a vehicle:
  • Identify neighbors, co‑workers, or family who might offer a ride if asked in advance
  • Check if any local churches, community groups, or social services offer transport assistance
  • Learn any local bus or shuttle schedules, if they exist in your area

3.3 Managing Cell Service and Communication in Rural WV

• Coverage awareness:
  • Notice where your phone regularly loses service on common routes
  • Note places where service is stronger (near schools, main roads, higher elevations)
• Communication planning:
  • Tell a trusted person a simple check-in plan if safe to do so, such as:
    • “If you don’t hear from me by [time], try calling or texting.”
  • Decide in advance what you want them to do if you do not check in (for example, try calling you, not driving to your home, or only contacting you by text)
• Phone and battery:
  • Keep your phone as charged as possible
  • Use low-power mode when traveling
  • Consider a small power bank if affordable

3.4 Privacy and Being Recognized in Small Communities

• When considering where to go:
  • Think about towns where you are less likely to be recognized
  • Consider using larger regional centers (county seats, larger towns) for services
• At public places (gas stations, stores, clinics):
  • Use cash when possible if you are concerned about transaction records
  • Limit sharing details about your situation with people who know the abusive person
• Online presence:
  • Review your social media privacy settings
  • Avoid posting travel plans, locations, or real-time updates
  • Consider logging out of shared devices and changing passwords from a safer device

4. Planning Around Children, Work, and Pets

4.1 Children and School Considerations

• School logistics:
  • Know school start and end times, bus routes, and pickup procedures
  • Identify alternate pickup adults the school recognizes (if allowed)
• Emergency plans with school (if safe and appropriate):
  • Ask about their process if someone unsafe tries to pick up your child
  • Provide a recent photo of the unsafe person if the school allows
• What to pack for children in a quick exit:
  • Essential medication and comfort items
  • One change of clothes or pajamas
  • Any items they need for school the next day (if possible)

4.2 Work, Income, and Rural Employment

• Planning at work:
  • Consider whether any supervisor or co‑worker can safely know there may be safety concerns
  • Ask (if appropriate) about options for schedule changes or shift adjustments
• Travel to and from work:
  • Identify alternate driving routes for commuting
  • Note well-lit areas where you could pull over if needed
  • Plan who you might call or text when leaving and arriving
• Income protection:
  • Keep records of hours worked and pay received
  • If paid in cash, consider safely storing a small portion separately

4.3 Pets and Livestock in Rural Areas

• If you must leave quickly:
  • Identify at least one safe place pets could go:
    • Trusted friend or family member
    • Veterinary boarding or kennel
    • Animal shelter that understands safety concerns
  • Gather basic pet items if possible:
    • Leash, carrier, or halter
    • Small portion of food and any medications
    • Vet records or a photo of the pet
• Livestock or farm animals:
  • Note which animals are legally in your name, if any documentation exists
  • Consider speaking with trusted neighbors about temporary care options if safe

5. Legal and Documentation Options in WV (Overview)

This section is informational and not legal advice. For details about your specific situation, consider talking with an attorney or a legal aid organization.

5.1 Protective Order Basics (General Overview)

• Many people in West Virginia use civil protective orders to request:
  • Contact and distance limits
  • Temporary possession of a home or vehicle
  • Temporary arrangements about children
• Courts often consider:
  • Recent incidents of harm or threats
  • Any police reports or medical records (if they exist)
  • Testimony and other documentation you bring
• Local DV programs often:
  • Explain court processes in plain language
  • Help with forms or accompany you to hearings when possible

5.2 Gathering Papers and Records

If it is safe to collect documents, you may want to organize them in one folder or envelope.

• Identity and relationship documents:
  • Marriage license or proof of relationship
  • Lease, mortgage, or utility bills with your name
  • Vehicle titles, registrations, or insurance cards
• Financial documents:
  • Bank account information
  • Loan or credit card statements
  • Pay stubs, benefit letters, or tax documents
• Incident-related documents:
  • Any prior protective orders (even from other states)
  • Police report numbers, if any
  • Medical visit summaries related to injuries or stress

6. Personal Safety Planning Checklist for WV

You can use this checklist to review your current options and decide which steps fit your situation.

6.1 Immediate Options

• Identify a safer room in the home with:
  • Quick exit route
  • Fewer potential weapons
• Decide on a code word or phrase with at least one trusted person
• Choose a primary and backup destination if you need to leave quickly
• Locate at least one nearby community or town with more services

6.2 Communication and Technology

• Review phone access:
  • Who can see your call/text history?
  • Is there a safer device or public phone you can use?
• Consider:
  • New email address that is not shared
  • Stronger passwords for important accounts
  • Checking for location-sharing settings on phones and apps

6.3 Transport and Rural Conditions

• Identify:
  • Main exit route from your home area
  • Backup route in case the main one is blocked or watched
• Plan for:
  • Gas availability and cost
  • Weather and road conditions by season
  • Areas with and without cell service
• Note:
  • Trusted people with vehicles
  • Local businesses open late or 24 hours

6.4 Support Network

• List people who might safely support you:
  • Friends or family the abusive person does not regularly contact
  • Neighbors, co‑workers, or community members
  • Clergy or community leaders you trust
• Decide how much each person should know:
  • Some may only need a code word
  • Others might hold copies of important documents or a safety bag

7. Next Review Steps

You can return to this toolkit and update your plans as your situation changes. Some people find it useful to:

• Re-check their safety bag every few months
• Update lists of contacts and local resources
• Review routes and travel options during different seasons

Recommended Articles

• Safety Planning Checklist
• Gathering Evidence
• Protecting Your Digital Privacy
• Preparing to Leave
• Talking with Friends and Family About Abuse