Transitions in Zanesville

10/31/2026

“But they've always been so nice to me!”
Unfortunately, that's something survivors hear far too often when they open up about abuse.
The truth is, someone can be friendly, hardworking, well-liked in their community, and even considered a wonderful friend or neighbor while treating their partner completely differently behind closed doors.
Abuse doesn't always come from someone who looks or acts the way we expect. Sometimes it's someone everyone knows, someone people admire, or someone nobody would ever suspect.
With Halloween here and masks everywhere, it's worth remembering that what we see on the outside doesn't always tell us what's happening in someone's life.
When someone trusts you enough to share their experience, don't dismiss it simply because it doesn't match the person you know. Listen, take their concerns seriously, and remember that your experience with someone may be very different from theirs.
As we close out Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we hope our community continues making room for conversations that aren't always easy to have. Sometimes believing someone means accepting that there's more to a story than what we've personally seen. 💜

10/30/2026

“Your mother finally understands what strength really is.”
Strength isn’t pretending everything is okay.
Strength is telling the truth.
Strength is admitting when you’re hurting.
Strength is asking for help.
Strength is walking away from what is destroying you.
Strength is loving yourself enough to protect yourself.
And sometimes, strength is standing in front of a crowd with a broken heart and saying your daughter’s name anyway.
Thank you, Janette, for trusting us with your story.
And thank you for making sure Mia’s name continues to be spoken. 💜

10/29/2026

Imagine working every day but having to ask permission to spend the money you've earned. Or wanting to get a job, only to have your partner interfere with your transportation, childcare, or schedule until keeping that job becomes nearly impossible.
Financial abuse doesn't always mean someone is taking your money. Sometimes it means controlling your access to it, monitoring every purchase, running up debt in your name, or making sure you're financially dependent on them.
And it's not always about how much money a household has. Someone can appear financially comfortable on the outside while having very little control over their own finances.

This is one of the reasons leaving an abusive relationship can be so complicated. When someone has spent months or years being denied financial independence, starting over can feel overwhelming.
As we recognize Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we want our community to understand that abuse isn't always physical. Financial control can be just as damaging to someone's independence and ability to make decisions about their future.

Everyone deserves financial dignity, independence, and the freedom to make choices about their own life. 💜

10/28/2026

Sometimes, the difference between staying in an unsafe situation and starting a new life comes down to something as simple as a security deposit, a utility bill, or the cost of moving.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of VFW Post 1058 (Zanesville, OH), American Legion Post 29 Zanesville Ohio, and Zanesville Eagles F.O.E #302, Transitions has received a combined $25,000 to support our Foundations of Freedom Project!

Every day, our staff walks alongside survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking who have found the courage to leave behind everything they know in search of safety. While leaving takes tremendous strength, rebuilding a life often comes with financial barriers that can feel impossible to overcome.

Because of these three organizations, we can help turn hope into possibility. 💜

Their generosity will help survivors secure safe housing, establish utilities, access transportation, and overcome the everyday obstacles that stand between them and independence.

To the members of the VFW, American Legion, and Eagles: THANK YOU. Thank you for believing in our mission, investing in the families of our community, and reminding survivors that they do not have to rebuild their lives alone.

Your kindness is more than a donation. It is a chance for someone to open the door to a safe home, take a deep breath, and finally begin again. 🏡💜

From the entire Transitions team, we are truly grateful!

10/28/2026

Halloween is a time for costumes, masks, and pretending to be someone else. But for some people, wearing a mask isn't something that only happens once a year.
Sometimes it's the smile that hides the pain. The "I'm fine" when everything is falling apart. The person who seems to have it all together while fighting battles nobody knows about.

This Halloween, Transitions wants to invite you to take part in a **Domestic Violence Awareness Creative Writing Competition!**

We're inviting our community to put their thoughts, experiences, and emotions into words. Whether it's a poem, a short story, or a personal reflection, we want to hear what you have to say.
Your writing doesn't have to tell your own story. It can be inspired by someone else's journey, a message of hope, or simply something you wish more people understood about domestic violence.

And remember, you don't have to take off your mask to have your voice heard. 💜
Because behind every mask is a story, and every story deserves the chance to be heard.

10/28/2026

October may be coming to an end, but domestic violence doesn't disappear when we put away the purple ribbons.
Throughout Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we've talked about warning signs, healthy relationships, safety, and the challenges survivors face. But awareness is about more than sharing information for 31 days. It's about what we do with that information throughout the rest of the year.
It's recognizing when something isn't right. It's choosing not to make jokes about abuse or blame someone for staying. It's teaching our children what respect looks like, checking in on the people we care about, and making sure those experiencing abuse know there are people and resources available to help.

At Transitions, this work continues every single day, whether it's October or not. And while we appreciate everyone who wears purple, shares our posts, attends events, or supports our mission this month, we hope you'll continue those conversations long after October 31st.
Because domestic violence awareness isn't just a month on the calendar. It's a commitment to creating a safer, more supportive community all year long. 💜

Send a message to learn more

10/27/2026

“Maybe the purpose of surviving isn’t simply to say, ‘I made it.’ Maybe it’s to reach back and pull somebody else out.”
Survival can become something more.
It can become a voice.
It can become advocacy.
It can become the hand that reaches back for the person who still believes there is no way out.
Janette is using what she survived to remind someone else: you matter, you deserve better, and asking for help does not make you weak. 💜

10/27/2026

When people hear the words "safety plan," they often assume it means someone is getting ready to leave an abusive relationship. But that's not always the case.
Safety planning can be helpful at any stage of someone's situation, whether they're still living with an abusive partner, preparing to leave, or trying to rebuild their life afterward.
It might involve identifying someone they trust, keeping important documents somewhere accessible, establishing a code word with family, or thinking through what to do if a situation becomes dangerous. What works for one person may not be safe or realistic for another, which is why safety planning should always be based on each individual's circumstances.
At Transitions, we understand that safety isn't one-size-fits-all. Our advocates can help survivors explore their options, identify concerns, and develop plans that make sense for their lives.

10/26/2026

Sometimes controlling behavior starts so small that it’s easy to mistake it for someone caring about you. They want to know where you’re going because they worry. They don’t like certain friends because they’re supposedly looking out for you. They get upset when you spend time away from them because they just love you so much.
But over time, those little things can turn into someone deciding who you can talk to, where you can go, what you can wear, or how you spend your time. You might find yourself changing your behavior just to avoid an argument or constantly explaining yourself to keep the peace.
This is one way coercive control can show up in a relationship. It isn’t always loud, and it doesn’t always involve physical violence. Sometimes it’s a pattern of behaviors that slowly takes away someone’s independence and makes them feel like they need permission to live their own life.

Love should add to your life, not make your world smaller. 💜

10/23/2026

“Silence didn’t protect me. Silence didn’t protect Mia. And silence isn’t going to protect the next little girl.”
Janette spent much of her life surviving things she didn’t talk about.
Now, she’s choosing to tell the truth — not because it’s easy, but because her story may be the story that helps someone else realize they don’t have to stay silent.
There is incredible power in using your voice. 💜