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Polk County Medical Society

Medicine Is The Art of Life Saving

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The Healing Path

A Guide to Surviving Domestic Violence

The Healing Path Guide was created through a partnership of the Polk County Medical Society, Polk County Medical Society Alliance, Healthy Polk 2000 and the Polk County Board of Supervisors. Revised 2004.

“The Healing Path” is available for download in a portable document format (PDF). This format allows both Macintosh and PC computers to access the same document.


To view and print this document, you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is a free download. Once you have this program on your computer, you will be able to retrieve many other documents on the Internet.

“The Healing Path: A Guide to Surviving Domestic Violence” (840K)

Cover (188K)

“The Healing Path,” broken up by sections:

Section 1

  • Introduction–You are not alone!
  • Terms use in this booklet
  • How do I know if I am abused?
  • Questions to ask yourself
  • Power and Control Wheel
  • Sexual abuse, marital rape and AIDS

Section 2

  • Could I be killed? Yes!
  • Why do men batter?
  • Why do I stay?
  • Crisis plan–To get out now
  • Safety notes
  • Action plan–To plan ahead
  • What to do if you are being stalked
  • Family Violence Center services

Section 3

  • What about counseling?
  • Equality Wheel
  • What about the children?
  • People with special needs
  • If the batterer uses alcohol or other drugs
  • If you are using alcohol or other drugs
  • If you are a woman of color
  • If you are an older woman
  • If you are physically disabled
  • If you are an immigrant
  • If you are lesbian or gay
  • Introduction to the Justice System
  • The Criminal Justice System

Section 4

  • Legal terms
  • When the police are called
  • If an arrest is made
  • If no arrest is made
  • When an assailant is charged
  • No-contact order
  • Simple misdemeanor charges
  • Indictable misdemeanor and felony charges
  • Crime Victim Rights Act

Section 5

  • Crime Victim Compensation Program
  • Personal Protection Orders
  • Divorce, custody, visitation
  • Summary of Iowa violence laws

Section 6

  • The Life Stages and Relationships Wheel
  • Resources available in Polk County
  • Iowa domestic abuse resources
  • In conclusion

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Healthcare Partnership Alliance Welcomes:

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UnityPoint Health – Des Moines
Broadlawns Medical Center
Mercy
The Iowa Clinic

Polk County Medical Society

1520 High Street
Des Moines, IA 50309



Telephone: +1 515 288 0172
FAX: +1 515 288 0173
E-mail: pcms@pcms.org

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