Getting Help with Domestic Violence

March 20, 2013
Audience:
Family Violence Prevention and Services (FVPSA)
Topics:
Domestic Violence Programs/Services
Types:
resource directory

National Hotlines

These hotlines  can help victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual violence find support and assistance in their communities:

National Domestic Violence Hotline

Free and confidential help is available for victims of domestic violence 24 hours a day. If you need help or just want someone to talk to, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or TTY 1-800-787-3224
As a survivor of domestic violence, your safety is at high risk when you leave an abusive relationship and right after you make that decision. It is important to work with a domestic violence advocate to develop a safety plan. Advocates can help you develop a plan for emergencies, connect you to community resources and discuss your options. 
Domestic violence programs and advocates can offer the following support:

  • Safety planning assistance;
  • Referrals for obtaining protection orders and legal assistance;
  • Help applying for public assistance and housing subsidies;         
  • Referrals to counseling, mental health, and addiction services;
  • Counseling and support groups for survivors and their children; and
  • Transitional housing.

There is a state domestic violence coalition for every State and United States Territory and they are connected to more than 2,000 local domestic violence programs across this country.  The domestic violence coalition working with programs in your community can be found at the National Network to End Domestic Violence’s website.

Learn More About Domestic Violence

Dating Violence Help For Teens & Young Adults

If you’re in an abusive relationship or know a young person in an abusive relationship call the National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline at 1-866-331-9474, or TTY 1-866-331-8453. Peer advocates are also available for live chat to answer questions about relationships from 4:00 PM – 2:00 AM; click here to learn more.

Learn More About Dating Violence

  • Want to learn more about preventing and responding to dating violence? Statistics, fact sheets, and community resources can be found by reviewing VAWnet's special collections. 
  • If you want to know the signs of abuse, learn more about health relationships, or how to help a friend, please read Love is Respect's Dating Basics.

Sexual Violence Resources

If you or someone you know, is a victim of sexual assault and is in need of support the National Sexual Assault Hotline can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 800-656-4673. When you call, you will hear a menu and can choose #1 to talk to a counselor. You will then be connected to a counselor in your community.

Learn More About Sexual Violence

Stalking Resources

If you are a victim of stalking or you know someone who is being stalked please call the Stalking Resource Center National Center for Victims of Crime Helpline:

Stalking Resource Center
National Center for Victims of Crime Helpline
Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 8:30 PM ET
1-800-FYI-CALL
(1-800-394-2255)
TTY: 1-800-211-7996

Learn More About Stalking

Special Issue Resource Centers & Culturally Specific Resources

There are two national resources working collaboratively to promote practices and strategies to improve our nation’s response to domestic violence:

  1. The National Resource Center on Domestic Violence
  2. The National Resource Center to End Violence Against Native Women

There is a national network of specialized resource centers that work to address domestic violence responses across these specific systems:

  1. Criminal and Civil Justice Systems;
  2. Child Protection System and Child Custody;
  3. Health Care Systems; and
  4. Mental Health Systems. 

There is also a network of culturally specific resource centers that works to address the impact of domestic violence within and culturally relevant responses for the following ethnic and racially specific communities:

All of these resource centers work in collaboration with the culturally specific resource centers that make up the Domestic Violence Resource Network (DVRN) which is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to inform and strengthen domestic violence intervention and prevention efforts at the individual, community, and societal levels.

Tribal Resources

To learn more about tribal domestic violence programs and resources available for Native communities contact the National Resource Center to End Violence Against Native Women.

The Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women funds tribal domestic violence services.