Do I have to pay for your services?
No! Every single one of our services is completely free of charge.
How do I know if I am being abused?
Abuse comes in many forms, but at the root of all abuse is the desire for power and control. If you constantly feel intimidated by your dating/romantic partner or family member, feel controlled or disrespected by them, or feel like you cannot trust them, then you may be in an abusive relationship. To learn more about the different kinds of abuse, please visit our resource library. You may also call our 24/7 support line to talk to an advocate: (707) 443-6042.
If I call the support line, will the advocate I speak to make a police report?
No, our advocates do not make police reports. In fact, everything you say to an advocate is kept confidential, meaning we do not share it with any other people, including law enforcement or other agencies. The only time when your information would be shared is if we hear of any suspected child abuse (as we are mandated reporters) or if you give your written consent for an advocate to share information with someone outside of our organization.
I am being abused by a family member. Am I eligible for services?
Yes, you are eligible for our services, including individual and group counseling, restraining order assistance, accompaniment and advocacy, and emergency food and clothing; however, we currently only have the funding to be able to offer sheltering services for people who are fleeing intimate partner violence. This means that people who are experiencing abuse enacted by a family member (i.e. not a romantic partner) are not eligible for shelter. We apologize for this gap in what we are able to provide.
I am under the age of 18. Can I receive services from you?
If you are under the age of 18, you can receive a limited number of services from us with the signed consent of a parent or guardian. Our 24/7 support line is available to you, as is individual counseling, emergency food and clothing, and restraining order assistance. Unfortunately, we cannot shelter unaccompanied minors, but we frequently refer people under the age of 18 to Youth Service Bureau if they are seeking shelter. Feel free to give them a call at (707) 444-CARE (2273).
If I call the support line, will I be assigned an advocate who works with me?
We operate as a team, meaning that we do not assign specific advocates to our clients. You may speak to one advocate on our 24/7 support line but then meet with a different advocate when you come in for an appointment. You may wonder if this will require you to share your story every time you meet with someone new. To avoid the re-traumatization that often occurs when survivors are forced to share their story over and over again, we share notes as a team and hold weekly staff meetings to review our caseload. This means that we are all familiar with each client’s unique set of needs and challenges.
I don’t want to share information about my abuser with you. Can I still receive services?
For the safety of our staff, it is required that you share information about your abuser if you wish to receive services other than simply calling our support line. While we understand that this can feel unsafe, we want to remind you that we keep this information confidential and do not share it with anyone. If you do not wish to share information about your abuser with our advocates, then you may continue to call our support line as an “anonymous caller”.
Do you offer childcare?
We don’t necessarily offer childcare, but we have a kids group that meets weekly on Wednesdays at the same time as our support group. If you are a survivor with children, you may bring your children with you when you attend support group, and they can attend kids group at the same time. Otherwise, survivors may opt to bring their children with them to appointments. Depending on our staffing, we may be able to play with your kiddo(s) in another room to help keep them occupied while you meet with your advocate.
I am a man or identify as male. Can I receive services from you?
Yes! Abuse does not discriminate – anyone can be in an abusive relationship regardless of factors like sex, gender, sexuality, race, socioeconomic status, ability, nativity, age, and other identifying traits. As such, we serve survivors of all backgrounds and identities.
What if I’m not ready to leave my abuser?
We do not require our clients to leave their abusers in order to access our services, as we acknowledge that this not always an immediately accessible option for survivors. Our goal is to meet you where you’re at, no matter where that might be.