If you leave your spouse or partner, you may need some financial assistance. Meeting the financial needs of yourself and your children will not be easy. But several ways of finding food and money for those first difficult months are discussed briefly below. The Victim's Advocate and counselors at the Center for Prevention of Abuse can help you look at your choices and work out a plan.

A. PUBLIC AID: CASH ASSISTANCE AND FOOD STAMPS

Even if you are working, you may be eligible for food stamps and other aid. To apply, go to the Public Aid office located at 605 NE Jefferson Avenue (671-3282). Go early in the morning and ask for an application and an appointment for an interview.

Public Aid will want you to prove all your monthly income and your ongoing expenses. It is important to bring along verification of such things as: monthly income, unemployment benefits, social security benefits and child support. They will also ask you to verify the amount of your rent and your utility and child care bills.

Public Aid will ask whether or not you are living with your husband or partner. Tell them he in not living with you, or that his is not supporting you or your children.

If you have children, Public Aid will ask you whether or not your children are living with you. During the initial screening interview, it is important for you to bring the children's birth certificates and their social security numbers. During the eligibility interview, your second interview, you will need to bring the children's school records.

Processing the application will take some time. By law Public Aid has up to 45 days to decide whether to approve your application for cash and regular medical assistance, and up to 30 days to decide about your application for regular food stamps.

If you have little or no money you may be able to get "expedited" (fast) service for food stamps. Tell the caseworker that you are in immediate need for help. and that you are applying for "expedited service" for emergency food stamps. These must be furnished within five days of your application. In addition, if you are found eligible for medical assistance, Public Aid may pay most of your medical bills for up to the previous three months, depending upon the type of aid for which you qualify.

Even if someone at Public Aid tells you that you are not eligible for immediate assistance, fill out the application forms and turn them in the same day, whether or not you know all the answers. The sooner you turn in the forms, the sooner Public Aid will act on them. Do not take the forms home to fill them out even if a case worker tells you to.

The Public Aid worker might request your spouse's name and address in order to collect support from him. You do not have to give that information if you can provide sufficient evidence to show that doing so would put you or your children in danger. Tell the worker that you would like to apply for a "good cause exception."

Public Aid laws are often complicated and unclear. You may feel confused and frustrated. Be persistent. Get the names of the workers that you talk to. Contact Peoria's Victim Advocate, the Center for Prevention of Abuse, or the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV) if you have questions or feel that you are not getting what you need.

If your application for cash or food stamps is denied and you believe that you are entitled to such benefits, call for an appointment at the legal aid office nearest you (look in the Yellow Pages under Attorneys, Legal Assistance, or Legal Services.)

B. SOURCES OF EMERGENCY FOOD

A number of places can give you small supplies of food for your family in an emergency. If Public Aid determines you are not eligible for expedited food stamps, you can get help in locating these resources by calling Peoria's Victim Advocate, ICADV, or the local United Way Office at 674-5181.

C. CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS FROM THE CHILDREN'S FATHER

The father of your children has a legal duty to help support them. This is true even if you were not married to him when the children were born.

It is important to talk to a lawyer about child support as soon as possible. But first, if you do not have a job, you should apply for Public Aid as above. This is important because it can take at least a month to get a court order for child support, and the father may disappear or find other ways to escape his duty.

If you want an Order of Protection (see pages 12-19) and/or divorce, your lawyer (or in some instances the State's Attorney if you are pressing charges) can request the order for child support. Also be sure to talk to your lawyer about finding temporary child support and maintenance for yourself. (See FINDING A LAWYER, pages 23-25).

If you are not married to the children's father, or if you are married but don't want a divorce, contact the Public Aid family support specialist even if you are not getting assistance. Or you may call the State's Attorney's office in your county. Of course, if you can afford a private lawyer you can hire one yourself.

There is a law in Illinois under which the court can order that once child support payments become overdue, they can be directly withheld from the paycheck of the person owing them. The money can then be sent to the parent who has custody. For more information, contact the Public Aid family support specialist or your attorney.

If you were not married to the father when the child was born, you may need to establish paternity before you can get child support. If you are on Public Aid, the family support specialist and child support enforcement division will take care of this. If you are not on Public Aid, contact the Peoria County State's Attorney's office (672-6900) located at 324 Main Street.

Also, through an Order of Protection the court can order your abuser to pay your medical and out-of-pocket expenses resulting from the abuse, as well as your legal fees and support for you and your children.

D. CRIME VICTIM COMPENSATION

If a beating you received caused you to incur medical bills and/or lost wages from your job, the Illinois Crime Victims Compensation program may pay you for losses. To be eligible for compensation, you must:

1. 1) File and press criminal charges against the abuser;
2. 2) File a "Notice of Intent" to seek compensation within six months;
3. 3) Live separately from the abuser at the time you file your "Notice of Intent" and at the time the compensation is awarded;
4. 4) File an application for compensation within one year of the injuries.

For more information and forms, you can call the Illinois Attorney General's Office, Crime Victim Division, 312/793/2585 or 800-228-3368.

E. FINDING A NEW HOME

Finding a new home, especially an inexpensive one, can be difficult. Tell everyone you know you are looking for one. Look in the daily. weekly and neighborhood newspapers.

Here are some questions to ask before renting a new home: Does the rent include heat, electricity and gas? If not, how much do they average monthly? Will those things presently in disrepair be repaired before you move in? Is there maintenance on the building? How safe is the building? Will extra locks be installed for increased safety? Do you have to put down a deposit? If so, how much? When and under what conditions will it be refunded? Are there any restrictions regarding children or pets?

Do not put any money toward the security deposit until you sign the lease. The lease is your security that the landlord will abide by its terms.

Before you begin looking for an apartment, be aware that some landlords discriminate on the basis of race, because you are a single mother, or because you have children. They may refuse to rent to you or make excuses about why you cannot have the apartment or house. If you encounter these problems, look for groups that advocate for tenants' rights to help you.

F. JOB REFERRAL, JOB TRAINING AND DAY CARE

Peoria's Victim Advocate can give you information about how to find a job. In addition, contact the following agencies for information on job training, referral and placement:

• ILLINOIS JOB SERVICE: Contact the Job Services Office located at 406 Elm Street (671-3113).
• JTPA, THE JOB TRADING PARTNERSHIP ACT, has 29 Service Delivery Areas throughout the state of Illinois. This program authorizes job training for economically disadvantaged individual and others who face serious barriers to employment. Contact the JTPA at 613 NE Jefferson (672 6076).
• DISPLACED HOMEMAKER PROGRAMS: The Illinois Network for Displaced Homemakers provides displaced homemakers throughout the state with a variety of job search skills and counseling services. Although the extent of services may vary from program to program, all assistance is aimed at helping displaced homemakers become successful in the paid work force.

Programs offer the following services:

• job search skills
• counseling
• referral
• education and training
• job development and placement.

Peoria's Victim Advocate can provide information on other employment services that might be offered by YWCAs, Community Action Agencies, Urban Leagues, Career Guidance Centers or other local programs.