National Domestic Violence Resources

  • National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-SAFE (7233) or 800-787-3224 (TTY); www.TheHotline.org — This is a crisis intervention and referral phone line for domestic violence.
  • Resource Center on Domestic Violence, Child Protection, and Custody: 800-527-3223; www.rcdvcpc.org/ – Provides resources on these important topics to judges, domestic violence advocates, and the public.
  • National Coalition Against Domestic Violence: 303-839-8459 or 303-839-1852 (TTY); www.ncadv.org — The mission of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence is to organize for collective power by advancing transformative work, thinking, and leadership of communities and individuals working to end the violence in our lives.
  • National Center for Victims of Crime: 202-467-8700; www.ncvc.org — The mission of the National Center for Victims of Crime is to forge a national commitment to help victims of crime rebuild their lives. The center is dedicated to serving individuals, families, and communities harmed by crime.
  • National Organization for Victim Assistance: 800-TRY-NOVA; www.TryNOVA.org — The National Organization for Victim Assistance is comprised of victim and witness assistance programs and practitioners, criminal justice agencies and professionals, mental health professionals, researchers, former victims and survivors, and others committed to the recognition and implementation of victim rights and services.
  • National Online Resource Center on Violence Against Women: www.vawnet.org — The mission of VAWnet, the National Online Resource Center on Violence Against Women, is to harness and use electronic communication technology to end violence against women.
  • National Resource Center on Domestic Violence: 800-537-2238 or 800-553-2508 (TTY); www.nrcdv.org – For more than 20 years, the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence(NRCDV) has been a comprehensive source of information for those wanting to educate themselves and help others on the many issues related to domestic violence.
  • National Sexual Violence Resource Center: 877-739-3895 or 717-909-0715 (TTY); www.nsvrc.org – The National Sexual Violence Resource Center identifies, develops and disseminates resources regarding all aspects of sexual violence prevention and intervention.

State Domestic Violence Resources

  • Domestic Shelters: www.DomesticShelters.org — This website provides information on domestic violence help and local shelters. It also includes a directory of state offices that can help victims find local support, shelter, and free or low-cost legal services. Includes all US states as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.

Finding a Counselor

Legal Aid

  • LawHelp: https://www.lawhelp.org, helps people of low and moderate incomes find free legal aid programs in their communities, answers to questions about their legal rights and forms to help them with their legal problems.
  • Women’s Law: www.womenslaw.org, offers state-specific legal information and resources for survivors of domestic violence, including information on how to gather evidence of abuse and prepare for court.
  • VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday), www.vinelink.com, allows crime victims to obtain timely and reliable information about criminal cases and the custody status of offenders. It offers the ability to search for an offender by name or ID number and then register to be alerted if the offender has been released or has escaped. Available 24 hours a day in 47 states.

Responding to Domestic Violence for Pastors and Rabbis

Additional Support Resources

  • Domestic Violence Awareness Handbook: www.dm.usda.gov/shmd/handbook.htm  — This guide to domestic violence covers common myths, what to say to a victim, and what communities can do about the problem.
  • Family Renewal Shelter: http://www.domesticviolencehelp.org/or 1-253-475-9010 (24-hour crisis line) or 1-888-550-3915 (toll free): A Christian resource that provides crisis help and assistance developing a safety plan.
  • To find professional Christian counselors experienced in domestic violence, call Focus on the Family Counselors, 1-800-232-6459 (toll free), visit https://ccn.thedirectorywidget.com/ (find a counselor), or go to the American Association of Christian Counselors at www.AACC.net.
  • Document the Abuse: documenttheabuse.com, assists women who fear for their safety in developing an Evidentiary Abuse Affidavit (EAA) that combines videotaping of the victim’s actual words attesting to the abuse, coupled with creative witnessed and notarized legal document that successfully satisfy legal hurdles often faced in these intimate partner violence and stalking cases. The victim then has document “testimony” to be used to press charges if she goes missing or something happens to her.
  • Can an Abusive Partner Change?: http://www.thehotline.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2015/05/Hotline-canabuserschange.pdf, a realistic look at if an abuser can change and what it will look like if they truly will change.
  • Women’s Law: www.womenslaw.org, offers state-specific legal information and resources for survivors of domestic violence, including information on how to gather evidence of abuse and prepare for court.
  • VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday), www.vinelink.com, allows crime victims to obtain timely and reliable information about criminal cases and the custody status of offenders. It offers the ability to search for an offender by name or ID number and then register to be alerted if the offender has been released or has escaped. Available 24 hours a day in 47 states.
  • Lighthouse Network: www.lighthousenetwork.org or 1-877-562-2565. Assists individuals and their loved ones in finding effective treatment for drug, alcohol, psychological, or emotional struggles. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  • Drug Rehab: https://www.drugrehab.com/guides/domestic-abuse/ This guide is a comprehensive resource that covers domestic abuse, sexual violence, and substance abuse.
  • Give Her Wings: http://giveherwings.com A non profit organization that helps and serves single mothers who have left abusive relationships and have little to no recourse.

Educational Resources

  • Stop Bullying: https://www.stopbullying.gov. Dedicated to finding solutions to bullying and other forms of aggressive behavior.
  • No Safe Place, www.pbs.org/kued/nosafeplace: Documentary offering a thoughtful examination of the origins of violence against women, looking at the biological, sociological, cultural, and historical factors involved.
  • FOCUS Ministries, www.focusministries1.org: Offers hope, encouragement, support, education, spiritual direction, and assistance to teens, women, and families who experience domestic violence, separation or divorce. They also have a ministry specific to pastors’ wives.
  • Crying Out For Justice, www.cryingoutforjustice.wordpress.com, a blog that addresses the needs of the evangelical church to recognize and validate the reality of abuse in the Christian home.
  • Leslie Vernick, www.leslievernick.com/the-emotionally-destructive-marriage: Free resource page with short video clips, podcasts, and other articles.
  • God’s Protection of Women: When Abuse Is Worse Than Divorce (Grand Rapids, MI: RBC Ministries, 2005), free to download, God’s Protection of Women.
  • Face to Face, Facial Surgeries for Victims of Domestic Abuse or 1-800-842-4546: Provides free plastic and reconstructive surgery for domestic violence victims who have injuries to face, head, or neck.
  • Give Back a Smile, AACD Charitable Foundation or 1-800-773-4227: Provides free repair of front teeth damaged by a violent partner or spouse.
  • Give Her Wings, www.giveherwings.com, a fundraising ministry for mothers who have left abusive situations.
  • The Aspire Curriculum: Developed by When Georgia Smiled*, The Aspire Initiative is a FREE domestic violence education curriculum aiming to reduce the level of intimate relationship violence in the U.S., and instill the importance of bystander responsibility, from prevention to safe exit strategies. Available to access online, anywhere, anytime. *When Georgia Smiled: The Robin McGraw Revelation and Dr. Phil Foundation is devoted to helping advance organizations and programs that serve victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse and individuals facing crisis to live healthy, safe and joy-filled lives.
  • EMDR: EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a psychotherapy that enables people to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress that are the result of disturbing life experiences. Repeated studies show that by using EMDR therapy people can experience the benefits of psychotherapy that once took years to make a difference. It is widely assumed that severe emotional pain requires a long time to heal. EMDR therapy shows that the mind can in fact heal from psychological trauma much as the body recovers from physical trauma.
  • Find an EMDR Therapist: Use this website to find an EMDR Therapist in your area. Simply search by city, state or ZIP code using the Find an EMDR Therapist Radius or General Search.
  • Can an Abusive Partner Change?: http://www.thehotline.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2015/05/Hotline-canabuserschange.pdf, a realistic look at if an abuser can change and what it will look like if they truly will change.

Mobile Apps and Private Browsing Resources

  • Aspire News App: Built for use on smartphones, the Aspire News app is a major development in domestic violence safety, and is the first of its kind. The app is disguised as a normal icon and even has a decoy home page, so you will be safe if your abuser takes your phone. The most important feature of the Aspire News app is called the GO Button, which you can activate the moment you are in danger. Once activated, the GO Button will send a pre-typed or pre-recorded message to multiple trusted, preselected contacts, or even 911, saying that you are in trouble. Additionally, once the app is activated, your phone will begin recording audio of everything that is going on in the room, which can be used as evidence for any legal proceedings that may stem from the incident. It is important to always have your location services activated, as many of the app’s features require it. For example, the app can be used to locate the shelters and resources closest to you.
  • Safe Website Browsing: In order to safely browse websites and protect yourself from potentially dangerous situations, please browse in Incognito mode. When you browse in Incognito Mode, no information is stored in your browsing history, meaning that an abuser cannot sift through your browsing history and see the websites that you have been visiting or viewing while in Incognito Mode. To find instructions on how to browse in Incognito Mode on your desktop or mobile, please use the links below:
  • Safe Connectivity Tips for Domestic Violence Victims: https://www.reviews.com/blog/safe-connectivity-tips/ – Information on protecting yourself from technology misuse when domestic violence is an issue.

Rape and Sexual Violence Resources

  • Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network: 800-656-HOPE (4673); www.rainn.org – RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) is the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization. RAINN created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline in partnership with more than 1,000 local sexual assault service providers across the country and operates the DoD Safe Helpline for the Department of Defense. RAINN also carries out programs to prevent sexual violence, help survivors, and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.

Resources for Parents

  • Child Welfare Information Gateway: 800-394-3366; www.ChildWelfare.gov – The Child Welfare Information Gateway is the congressionally-mandated and -funded information service of the United States Children’s Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, United States Department of Health and Human Services.
  • Childhelp USA National Hotline: 800-4-A-CHILD (800-422-4453); www.ChildHelp.org – Childhelp helps the victims of child abuse through education treatment and prevention programs.
  • Talking Parents: www.talkingparents.com – Talking Parents keeps track of important conversations between parents that may become the subject of future litigation. Their goal is to improve communication and help parents avoid disputes. In high-conflict situations–especially those involving domestic violence–courts can order parents to communicate exclusively through their free service. Parents do not need each other’s telephone numbers, email addresses, or any other actual contact information to communicate through TalkingParents.com.
  • Our Family Wizard: www.ourfamilywizard.com – Our Family Wizard provides tools that keep children at the center of co-parenting. The comprehensive application solves shared parenting challenges including: 
    • Understanding your parenting schedule at a glance
    • Managing shared parenting expenses and payments
    • Sharing and storing vital family details
    • Documenting and organizing your communication within one secure app
    • Simplifying requests for parenting time exchanges, reimbursements, and more

Resources for Men

  • National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-SAFE (7233) or 800-787-3224 (TTY); www.TheHotline.org — This is a crisis intervention and referral phone line for domestic violence.
  • HelpGuide.org: www.helpguide.org/articles/abuse/help-for-abused-men.htm — This guide provides help for men who are being abused.
  • Male Survivor: https://www.malesurvivor.org/index.php — MaleSurvivor is a leader in the fight to improve the resources and support available to male survivors of all forms of sexual abuse in the US and around the globe. They also shed light on the facts and truth about male sexual abuse. Learn more about the facts by visiting https://www.malesurvivor.org/facts/. 
  • Men Stopping Violence, www.menstoppingviolence.org: Works locally, nationally, and internationally to dismantle belief systems, social structures, and institutional practices that oppress women and children and dehumanize men themselves.
  • MenEngage Global Alliance, www.menengage.org: Dedicated to engaging men and boys to end violence against women, and to questioning or challenging violent versions of manhood.

Resources for Gay Men and Women

  • National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-SAFE (7233) or 800-787-3224 (TTY); www.TheHotline.org — This is a crisis intervention and referral phone line for domestic violence.
  • The Network la Red: 800-832-1901; www.tnlr.org — This is a survivor-led organization to end LGBTQ partner abuse.

Resources for Immigrant Women

  • National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-SAFE (7233) or 800-787-3224 (TTY); www.TheHotline.org/is-this-abuse/abuse-and-immigrants/ — This is a crisis intervention and referral phone line for domestic violence.
  • Department of Homeland Security: www.dhs.gov/immigration-options-victims-crimes — US law provides several protections for legal and undocumented immigrants who have been victims of a crime. There are specific protections for victims of domestic violence, victims of certain crimes, and victims of human trafficking.

Resources for Teens

Help for Abusive Partners

  • National Domestic Violence Hotline, https://www.thehotline.org/help/for-abusive-partners/: Offers insight, resources and help for abusive partners.
  • Domestic Abuse Intervention Programs, www.theduluthmodel.org or 1-218-722-2781: Offers an ever-evolving way of t hiking about how a community works together to end domestic violence.
  • Changing Men, Changing Lives, www.ChangingMenChangingLives.org: A Christian version of the Domestic Abuse Intervention Program.
  • RAVEN, www.ravenstl.org/dev: St. Louis program providing high-quality domestic violence intervention and prevention services to those at risk to commit violence.
  • Emerge, www.emergedv.com: Boston program seeking to educate individual abuser, prevent young people from learning to accept violence in thief relationships, improve institutional responses to domestic violence, and increase public awareness about the causes and solution to partner violence.
  • Manalive, www.mavcenter.org: California program committed to helping men age sixteen and older stop violence to themselves, their intimate partners, their families, and their communities.
  • Menergy, www.menergy.org: Philadelphia program for people who have been abusive to their intimate partners.