DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE
Relationship abuse is a pattern of behaviors used to gain or maintain power and control over a partner, which can manifest in a number of ways, and there’s usually more than one form of abusive behavior occurring in an abusive relationship.
Understanding the various ways that abuse appears and intersects can prepare you to respond to a situation safely for yourself and others.
Abuse can appear as physical abuse, emotional and verbal abuse, sexual abuse, sexual coercion, reproductive coercion, financial abuse, digital use through technology, and stalking.
To learn more about domestic violence, how to identify it, plan for safety and support others, visit the National Domestic Violence Hotline website:
SANTA CLARITA & ANTELOPE VALLEYS
Child & Family Center Domestic Violence Program
Domestic violence can affect ANYONE of ANY age, race, sexual orientation, religion, or gender. It can happen to any couple, married, living together, or dating. Domestic violence is not limited to physical abuse, such as punching, shoving, tripping, slapping, or biting. Domestic violence and dating violence can take the form of emotional abuse, verbal abuse, financial abuse, sexual abuse, economic abuse, threats and even intimidation. If your partner is making you feel afraid, often insults or humiliates you, has hit, kicked, or punched you (or threatened to), keeps you from seeing your loved ones or pursuing your interests, blames you excessively or gets angry often, you may be in an abusive relationship. If you are still unsure, please contact us to speak to an advocate who can assess your situation further.
Child & Family Center’s Domestic Violence Program offers shelter, intervention, and prevention to survivors of domestic violence and their families. To break the cycle of abuse, we developed programs that provide survivors of domestic violence with extensive opportunities and means of support to improve the quality of life for their families.
While physical violence leaves visible wounds and scars, the emotional toll of abuse leaves lasting hidden effects. Often, the psychological consequences of abuse can manifest as symptoms including, but not limited to, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, suicidal ideation and sleep disorders.
Our program encompasses:
Individual therapy
Support Groups
16-week court mandated domestic violence course
Peer Counseling
Parenting Classes
Court advocacy
Emergency Shelter
Crisis Response
24 Hour Hotline
Main Office 21545 Centre Pointe Pkwy Santa Clarita, CA
661-259-8175 Mon-Thurs 9-6 PM/Friday 8-5 PM
Palmdale Office (limited Services)
38345 30th Street E. C-2, Palmdale CA 661-259-8175
24 hour hotline 661-259-4357
SAN FERNANDO & SANTA CLARITA VALLEYS
STRENGTH UNITED
Every 2 minutes, another American is sexually assaulted.
1 in 6 women have been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime.
1 in 33 men have been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime.
About 1 in 10 children will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday.
1 in 6 men and 1 in 3 girls will have experienced abusive sexual experiences before their 18th birthday.
73% of sexual assaults were perpetrated by someone known to the victim.
The majority of child sexual abuse perpetrators are known to the child.
The United States Department of Justice defines sexual assault as any type of sexual contact or behavior that occurs without the explicit consent of the recipient. Falling under the definition of sexual assault are sexual activities such as:
Forces sexual intercourse
Forced sodomy
Child Molestation
Incest
Fondling
Attempted rape
Exposure to pornographic materials
Exhibitionism
Obscene phone calls
Child Molestation includes offense in three categories: touching, non-touching and sexual exploitation. Examples of each include:
Touching:
Fondling;
Making a child touch an adult’s sexual organs; and
Penetration of the vagina or anus no matter how slight by any object that does not have a valid medical purpose.
Non-Touching:
Engaging in indecent exposure or exhibitionism
Exposing children to pornographic material
Deliberately exposing a child to the act of sexual intercourse; and
Masturbating in front of a child
Sexual exploitation can include:
Engaging a child or soliciting a child for purposes of prostitution
Using a child to film, photograph, or model pornography
After a traumatic event, such as sexual assault of child sexual abuse, it is typical to have feelings of anxiety, stress or fear and, in children, regressive behaviors. These effects may make it difficult to adjust or cope after the attack. In particular, severe feelings of anxiety, stress or fear, known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) may occur. Symptoms of PTSD can include reliving the event in the form of flashbacks, frightening thoughts, recurring memories or dreams; avoidance of any situation related to the event, including places, events or people; difficulty in concentration and falling asleep; feeling tense or on edge; and angry outbursts.
Children and teens may experience bedwetting, inability to talk, acting out the assault and/or being unusually clingy with a parent or other trusted adult.
Treatment
Getting treatment as soon as possible after the traumatic event can prevent symptoms from becoming a long-term condition. StrengthUnited professionals have extensive knowledge in the treatment of PTSD and the provision of supportive care to individuals who have been impacted by sexual assault or child sexual abuse. These services include:
24-Hour Support and Referral Line
24-Hour accompaniment support during forensic medical evidentiary exams, court and investigative meetings
Individual and family counseling to individuals of all ages (In-person and Virtual)
Advocacy to assist clients in obtaining necessary services and information
Case Management
Support Groups for:
- o Children
- o Teens
- o Adults
- o Parents of sexually abused children
- o Adults molested as children
To learn more, please call Strength United at our 24-hour support and referral line: 661-253-0258. For those in immediate danger, call 911.