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Domestic Violence Crisis Line: 515-292-0519 or Toll Free 855-983-4641
Domestic violence is a pattern of coercive, abusive, and threatening behaviors aimed at gaining power and control over an intimate partner. Violent behaviors include cutting the victim off from family and friends, sexual assaults, and manipulation, of personal relationships, and exploitation of authority over children. While physical assault may occur infrequently, other forms of abuse may occur daily. Domestic violence forces victim/survivors to make choices based on how their partner may harm them.
Domestic violence crosses all class, race, lifestyle and religious lines. The only clear distinction is gender. Though same sex battering occurs about as often as in other couples, 95% of the victims of domestic violence in heterosexual couples are women battered by male partners.
ACCESS provides FREE and CONFIDENTIAL support to victims of domestic violence. This includes:
An advocate can provide counseling to assist a survivor of domestic violence in recognizing the impact of abuse, in identifying the strength that she/he had in surviving this abuse, and to provide resources that can be utilized for long term healing and growth. Whenever possible, ACCESS strives to connect a survivor to a long-term specialized resource such as a counselor or therapist. In addition, or instead, we hope to help a survivor build informal supports in her/his own life. We can provide education and support to family members, friends, neighbors, or supports in a faith community.
All services to victims of domestic abuse are voluntary. The goal of ACCESS is to help a survivor decide what course of actions she/he is ready to take and to prepare for these steps through education, support, and empowerment.
If you know someone who has been a victim of domestic violence, here are a few things to keep in mind while you work to support them:
ACCESS consistently offers support groups for different needs, including domestic abuse. Please check back or call 515-292-0500 for updated information.