SIDNEY -- DOVES is a program designed to support victims of domestic and sexual violence. 

The organization held a ribbon cutting with the Cheyenne County Chamber of Commerce to introduce its new location at 1103 Illinois St., Sidney.

"So, our program we work with survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. We have all different kinds of areas with our program. Some of our areas we work with individuals. We might help them with court advocacy, legal advocacy, due protection orders ... things like that," said Adrienne Cheatham Client Advocate, Education Prevention Coordinator Sidney Office.

Cheatham said they also help with medical advocacy, accompanying clients to medical visits when needed, or helping a client after an incident has occurred. 

"We provide support, like one-on-one lessons to help them deal with the trauma they've gone through. Sometimes, its things like safety planning, trying to get them connected with social services for a new home," she said.

The DOVES office in Sidney does not have on site housing, but they do connect clients with necessary resources. Cheatham said sometimes they work with people who have not had the basics of society, such as a driver's license, or recovering a copy of their birth certificate. She said DOVES covers a lot of areas a person might not think of unless they are in this situation.

DOVES has been in Sidney since 2002 in various locations, said Hilary Wasserburger, executive director of the DOVES program. She said with the different locations, DOVES has consistently had staff in Sidney.

"What we've seen in the last 6-8 months since Adrienne's been here is a huge uptick in the number of people needing services. So we really appreciate the new office space which gives us better visibility, and we've hired a full time staff to accommodate the need because it just really been keeping us way busier than we anticipated. 

DOVES can be reached at 866-95DOVES, text the program 24/7 at 515-599-2620, the website: dovesprogram.com and there are offices in Sidney (1103 Illinois St.), Alliance, Gering and Chadron. A family member or friend are also welcome to call on behalf of a person as well.