Several James Madison University students remember University of Virginia student Yeardley Love's death in 2010. Now they are working to prevent domestic abuse before it starts.
One senior at the school heads up a campus group called CARE to reach out to students.
"It's okay to speak out. It's a taboo subject, but we're here to make it less taboo and easier to talk about," said senior Brittanie Vogen.
The group worked for more than 20 years to teach students the myths and facts of abuse as well as how to get help.
"We're helping them grow and kind of help them make their way through the process of healing so they can move on with their lives," says Vogen.
CARE plans to speak with classes all this semester about dating violence and how college students aren't immune just because they're on campus.
CARE members held their first class this afternoon to share signs of abuse like threats, physical abuse and lack of trust.
One worker at the United Way is the head of a group called First Step, which helps women and children leave abusive relationships.
She said women and men can suffer from abuse, and they need to take steps to leave.
"They have to make the best decisions for themselves and try to be safe and realize that's not what a relationship is," said Executive Director of First Step, Candy Phillips.
Vogen said CARE deals with cases all year to prevent violence before relationships turn deadly.
"As long as you can help one or two people and get them out of that situation, and know that their going to have a better life in the long-run, it's just an amazing feeling," said Vogen.
The group, First Step, said looking out for verbal or physical abuse, threats and a controlling partner are signs of an abusive relationship.
Contact information for CARE:
Helpline: 540.568.6411
President: Ashley Libby (libbyam@dukes.jmu.edu)
Graduate Assistant: Aliana Baro-Vinacco (vinaccan@jmu.edu)
Staff Contact: Liz Howley (howleyec@jmu.edu)
Contact information for First Step:
129 Franklin Street
Harrisonburg VA 22801
(540) 434-0295
(866) 223-9169
Website: First Step
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