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Domestic Violence Resources Directory
If you’re struggling to cope in an abusive relationship, you’re not alone. Experts estimate that over 10 million Americans are affected by domestic violence every year. Whether it’s physical or verbal abuse, it’s not OK, and you can take action to stop it. These vetted helplines are here for you.
The Ocala Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Center
Domestic Violence Resource
How We Help:The Ocala Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Center works proactively to eliminate domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, and other crimes in our society. Our mission is to aid, comfort and empower victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
History:
The Center began in 1975 with 11 dedicated volunteers. The Center/Shelter expanded over the years to meet the needs of domes ...tic violence and rape victims in this growing community. The shelter in Ocala is a 501c3 non-profit organization committed to helping the battered woman and her family. Our professional and volunteer staff conducts a complete counseling, assistance, safe housing, and referral program. We work with many other community agencies to provide the best possible services to each family that comes to us. We also counsel with husbands who have been battered. All services are free.Read More »
For Women, For Children/Teens, For Elders, Non-profits
Location
Ocala, FL
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Center for Abuse and Rape Emergencies of Charlotte County Inc.
Domestic Violence Resource
How We Help:At C.A.R.E. we help victims/survivors of domestic violence sexual assault and other violent crimes in Charlotte County, Florida. We create safety in our community by helping victims/survivors and to promote non-violent relationships by example and education.
History:
Founded in 1983, C.A.R.E. services include 24-hour crisis hotline, shelter, sexual assault response and counseling, legal ass ...istance, relocation assistance, court advocacy, Crime Victim Compensation and other related services to persons who have been victimized by violent crime. As a safe haven with free emergency shelter for you and your children, safety planning and one-to-one supportive assistance to victims, C.A.R.E. has everything you need to take the next steps in your life. Read More »
For Men, For Women, For Children/Teens, For Elders, Shelters
Location
Punta Gorda, FL
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Women In Distress of Broward County, Inc.
Domestic Violence Resource
How We Help:Our mission is to stop domestic violence abuse for everyone through intervention, education and advocacy. We strive to accomplish this mission through a 24-hour crisis line, emergency shelter program, individual counseling, support groups and professional training which is aimed at educating the community on domestic violence.
History:
Women In Distress of Broward County, Inc. was founded by Edee Greene and a group of concerned citizens in July of 1974 as Bro ...ward County’s first refuge for homeless women in a modest four-bedroom home until a local tragedy brought light to the need for shelter for women and children in danger. Shortly after, the agency’s founders were able to purchase a 54-bed shelter with generous contributions from Dr. Kona and Ruth Simon, and Walter and Peg Griffith, later expanding to 62 beds with a gift of a second 8-bed shelter from Lorraine Thomas. Women In Distress was now able to offer crisis shelter and support to victims of domestic violence and their children. Today, Women In Distress has expanded again in order to meet the increased needs for emergency shelter and services. In the Summer of 2011, the new Women In Distress Jim & Jan Moran Family Center opened its doors to the community. The new center allowed for the agency to double its emergency shelter and outreach services as well as offer new enhancements.Read More »
How We Help:Preventing teen dating violence through awareness, education, and advocacy (+video games) in memory of Jennifer Ann Crecente
History:
Jennifer Ann Crecente was a high school honors student that was murdered by an ex-boyfriend on February 15, 2006. Our group w ...ill keep Jennifer Crecente's memory alive through good works and by fighting Teen Dating Violence. My daughter, Jennifer Crecente died the day after Valentine's Day, 2006.
She didn't die from a childhood disease and wasn't killed in a car accident.
She was murdered by a classmate.
Somebody that she'd grown to know, trust and eventually date. She was murdered by somebody that had problems. Problems that at the invincible age of 18, Jennifer thought that she could overcome.
Don't you remember? In high school we are immortal.
But for Jennifer Crecente and those that love her we know all too well how very painfully mortal we are. Abuse isn't a "very special episode" of our favorite television show. Problems don't disappear during the commercial break.
Good, decent people that want to help out a friend are sometimes murdered in cold blood.
And the bogeyman isn't always under the bed.
Sometimes he's the kid that lives down the street.
Our organization is going to do everything that it can to ensure that no other parent has to be awakened in the middle of the night by friends pounding on the door. No more groggy-eyed astonishment. No more shocked out-of-body emptiness.
No more realization that nothing will ever be the same again. Nothing.
We will educate young people about danger signs. About warning signals. About indications that they are in above their heads and not immortal.
And then we'll point them in the right direction - toward the many groups that offer assistance, counseling and protection. We will not rest until every young person has been educated about an epidemic that impacts over 20% of our teenage population*.
Ignorance will not be an excuse. We won't stop until this knowledge is as fundamental as looking both ways when you cross the street.
I can't bring my baby back. Jennifer is gone, and as powerless as I may be about that, I refuse to allow this to continue unabated. Please join our forum on Teen Dating Violence so that you can join in conversations about this worldwide problem. We are a young organization but have ambition, passion and an energy borne of desperation.
Please keep Jennifer in your hearts and prayers. I sincerely wish you could have known her.Read More »
Domestic and Sexual Violence Services of Hernando County
Domestic Violence Resource
How We Help:The primary focus of the agency was and continues to be the provision of quality services to women and their children who are victims of domestic violence, and to victims of rape or sexual assault and their families or partner as reflected in our mission statement: to end the cycle of family violence, abuse and sexual assault, where home is a safe place.
History:
Dawn Center was previously known as Hernando County Rape Crisis Spouse Abuse Center and has been meeting needs in Hernando Co ...unty since December 1986. Originally, the agency was a satellite office of Marion County Rape Crisis Spouse Abuse Center and although Hernando women and their children could receive counseling through the outreach offices based in Hernando County, to receive safe shelter women and children had to be transported by to Marion County a round trip distance of 110 miles. By July of 1993, a group of concerned citizens spear-headed by State Senator Ginny Brown-Waite launched a local campaign and raised $95,000 which allowed for the purchase of a large, four floor, single family home in Hernando County, to be brought up to fire code to house 24 women and children, and become Hernando County's only safe house for victims of domestic violence and their children. The first women and children to be offered safe shelter at the Dawn Center house was in the early Spring of 1994, giving the opportunity to provide counseling, support groups, children's programs, and life and parenting skills in a caring, supportive environment, while being able to give relevant, Hernando County referrals to assist women in their plans for housing, employment and education.Read More »
For Women, For Children/Teens, Rape Crisis Centers
Location
Spring Hill, FL
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SafeHouse of Seminole
Domestic Violence Resource
How We Help:The mission of SafeHouse is to have a community of healthy, violence-free relationships and families in Seminole County by effective intervention initiatives and bringing people together to build healthy families.
History:
SafeHouse of Seminole was established in 1995, growing out of the Seminole County Victims’ Rights Coalition, Inc. Advocate ...s, criminal justice agencies and other organizations and individuals who shared the common goal of ending violence against the people and animals in Seminole County were at the forefront of making SafeHouse a reality. Advocates at SafeHouse are working to respond to the crisis of domestic violence while working toward prevention, and we are committed to working together in an environment of reciprocity and mutual support to prevent all violence. Prevention is important. SafeHouse advocates also share information about domestic violence – Providing educational and training programs to people who work with victims (police, doctors, teachers, and counselors).Read More »
For Men, For Women, For Children/Teens, For Elders, Legal Help
Location
Lake Monroe, FL
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Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Domestic Violence Resource
How We Help:We empower survivors and the programs that serve them, we educate the public, and we advocate for responsive public policy. Our strength is in numbers, as we collaborate throughout Georgia to stop domestic violence.
History:
For over 30 years, the Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence (GCADV) has been Georgia’s leading representative of dom ...estic violence agencies, advocates, allied individuals and survivors throughout the state. Tracing our roots back to 1980, GCADV grew out of the overwhelming need for domestic violence agencies to form a statewide network of programs to coordinate and expand the services available to victims of domestic violence in Georgia, increase public awareness, and achieve crucial legislation to protect domestic violence victims, including state-funding for domestic violence programs. Originally formed as a grassroots volunteer agency in 1980 as the Georgia Network Against Domestic Violence, our name was changed to the Georgia Council on Abused Women in 1992, and again in 1995 to the Georgia Coalition on Family Violence. In 1999, our agency took on our current name of the Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Read More »
For Men, For Women, For Children/Teens, For Elders
Location
Decatur, GA
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Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Domestic Violence Resource
How We Help:The Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence engages communities and organizations to end domestic violence through education, advocacy, and action for social justice.
History:
The Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence (HSCADV), a private, not-for-profit organization, was formed in 1980. Th ...e HSCADV is a coalition of programs responding to the problem of spouse abuse. It is comprised of the directors of spouse abuse shelters and psycho-educational counseling programs for victims and perpetrators of spouse abuse on each of the islands, as well as the Victim Witness Assistance division of the Honolulu Prosecutor’s office and the Domestic Violence Clearinghouse and Legal Hotline. The HSCADV believes that violence against women and children results from the use of force or threat to achieve and maintain control over others in intimate relationships. We also believe that societal abuse of power and domination in the forms of sexism, racism, heterosexism, classism, antisemitism, able-bodyism, ageism, and other oppressions foster battering by perpetuating conditions which condone violence against women and children.While carrying out our mission and vision, we are respectful and ethical in our communications with each other.Read More »
For Men, For Women, For Children/Teens, For Elders, Non-profits
Location
Honolulu, HI
Connect
Idaho Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence
Domestic Violence Resource
How We Help:Our work is to build the capacity of programs, organizations, and systems through learning communities to provide safe, compassionate, trauma-informed, inclusive and accessible services to adolescents and adults and their children exposed to violence and to increase offender accountability.
History:
Established in 1980, the Idaho Coalition has grown to become a statewide membership network of over 80 domestic and sexual vi ...olence community-based programs, statewide governmental and non-governmental organizations, health care providers, law enforcement, victim witness units, prosecutors, and allied professionals. The Idaho Coalition Against Sexual & Domestic Violence works to be a leader in the movement to end violence against women and girls, men and boys – across the life span before violence has occurred – because violence is preventable. Our work is to create healthy relationships and compassionate communities. Read More »
For Men, For Women, For Children/Teens, For Elders, Non-profits
Location
Boise, ID
Connect
Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Domestic Violence Resource
How We Help:Through Advocacy, Training and Technical Assistance, ICADV works to eliminate violence against women, children and men.
History:
In Illinois each year, approximately 300,000 women and children experience violence in their homes. In 1978, the majority of ... women and children in Illinois had no safe place to go, little or no legal protection, and no one to talk with who understood the fear and pain. Most stayed in the home because there were no options. Many were killed. In 1978, twelve small Illinois community groups who recognized the unmet need for services to battered women gathered to make the commitment to provide ongoing choices to those hurt in their homes. From those grassroots efforts, the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence was formed. The goals of the coalition founders were to do things like provide safe places for the abused, explain options to victims/survivors, secure funding and more. Now, ICADV funds approximately 50 domestic violence programs across the state of Illinois. Read More »
