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**AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez**Sarah Dallof reporting
How difficult is it for a woman, especially one with children, to leave a polygamous compound or lifestyle and start fresh? Today Eyewitness News looked into many of the programs in the state designed to help these women.
It's pretty overwhelming to even think about it, starting over with hardly anything: no home, no money, no friends or family to fall back on. But there are programs across the state that are there to help make the experience easier.
As polygamist compounds across the Utah are increasingly scrutinized, resources across the state are coming together. "Many times they don't know anyone else outside the community so they wonder: Where am I going to go? What can I do? How can I support my children?" said Bonnie Peters, of the Family Support Center.
Peters has helped many women who left polygamist relationships over the years. "We can't all class them as one group. They are all different," she said.
Those differences exist in every aspect of the women's lives: their education, their work experience, the assistance they require. "The main thing is to take that initial step, to reach out, and there are people there," Peters said.
Programs are in place to provide the basics: shelter, clothing, counseling for women and children. Then there are resources to help women get on their feet, like opening a bank account and finding a job.
"Generally, people leaving polygamy don't have a lot of job skills, don't have a lot of confidence in what they may be doing," said Curt Stewart, with the Department of Workforce Services (DWS).
DWS offers workshops, including an extensive career and confidence-building class in St. George. "If you're not up to speed, knowing how to work in a wireless world, a connected world, then you really need to get those skills," Stewart said.
Experts say many women may not realize they already have skills, like managing a household or working with children, they just need to learn how to transfer those skills to a job. "It's overwhelming, but it is doable," Stewart said.
The organizations that can help women leave polygamy and start over are open to everyone, including women escaping abusive relationships or wanting to start working or re-enter the workforce.
Here are a couple phone numbers you can call for help:
Utah Domestic Violence Council Linkline: 1-800-897-LINK
Department of Workforce Services: (801) 526-WORK
For more information on these and other programs, click the related links.
E-mail: sdallof@ksl.com
