HEALING & JUSTICE FOR SURVIVORS
We strive to improve the emotional, mental, and behavioral wellness of our community.
Our Healing and Justice services work with community members at the intersections of racism, violence and trauma. We provide services to individuals who have been directly or indirectly impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. YWCA’s Healing & Justice Department offers a continuum of crisis response and ongoing support services for survivors of domestic violence (DV), human trafficking (HT), and sexual assault (SA). Recognizing the scope and complexity of individual, familial, and collective trauma, our services combine immediate, intermediate, and long-term strategies to support the journey of survivors as they seek healing and justice.
GET STARTED
To get more information about our services, start with a call to our
Support Line.
24/7 BILINGUAL SUPPORT LINE
Sexual Assault Domestic Violence Human Trafficking
For immediate in-person crisis assistance and counseling services, contact 24-hour support line
(800) 572-2782
Crisis Intervention
A survivor’s first interaction with YWCA advocates occurs through the 24/7 Support Line, SafeChatSV online chat system, or during an in-person response. The Support Line is toll free, staffed 24/7 by trained advocates, and is bilingual in English and Spanish language. Callers receive immediate crisis intervention, information and community resources, and assessment and intake into YWCA programs. Through YWCA’s in-person response system, advocates provide immediate, in-person support and advocacy to survivors throughout our community. This includes responses through: the Santa Clara County DV Strangulation protocol, the San Jose Police Department’s DV High Risk Response Team, Sexual Assault Forensic Exams at Valley Medical Center and Stanford University, and medical/forensic exams at the County’s Children’s Advocacy Center. YWCA Advocates also respond to walk-ins at our two community offices in the Central and North part of the County.
Crisis Counseling
YWCA Crisis Counseling services are often a survivor’s next step on our service continuum. Crisis counseling provides a safe space to focus on immediate needs, receive one-on-one emotional support, and learn strategies for grounding and self-empowerment. Survivors can receive anywhere from three to six one-hour-long sessions in-person, online, or by phone. Counseling staff meet survivors where they are at, based on their accessibility and privacy needs. Support groups provide a safe space to focus on improving emotional wellbeing by practicing mindfulness, age-appropriate coping skills, and self-care through conversations, art and games in community.
Case Management & Advocacy
We provide comprehensive domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking case management that is survivor-centered, trauma-informed, and tailored to meet survivors wherever they are on their journey towards healing and justice. YWCA Community Support Advocates provide services including: case management, peer counseling and emotional support around HT issues and trauma, advocacy, systems navigation and accompaniment, transportation assistance, linkages to social services, medical and dental care, educational, and employment resources, safety planning, and linkages to other YWCA resources such as resources for the LGBTQIA+ community, legal services, support groups, clinical therapy services, housing, children and parents/significant others of trauma survivors. Advocates assist survivors in developing goals by taking a family-centered approach and then track progress in collaboration with the survivor.
Therapy Services
We provide therapy for individuals and families affected by domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, child abuse or any other crisis situation that interferes with their ability to feel empowered and in control of choices and responses in all areas of life. Our therapy services support individuals from ages 5+.
Support Groups
Support groups provide a safe space to focus on improving emotional wellbeing by practicing mindfulness, age-appropriate coping skills, and self-care through conversations, art, and games in community.
Legal Advocacy Services
Our legal team supports survivors of violence through assistance with restraining and/or civil harassment orders and filing limited family law paperwork. We provide accompaniment to criminal, civil, and family law court hearings. We also assist survivors in filing limited family law paperwork, and court preparation and accompaniment for criminal, civil and family law hearings. Family law paperwork assistance includes divorce, child custody, child support, and visitation. We help survivors report their victimization to law enforcement, if that is their choice, including accompaniment to the police station. YWCA is also a U.S. Department of Justice certified agency, helping survivors file their U, T or VAWA visa. We host a Family Justice Center for walk-in clients on Fridays.
LGBTQIA+ Services
We provide affirming, culturally responsive services for LGBTQIA+ survivors including crisis intervention, counseling, case management and support groups.
Children's Advocacy Center of Santa Clara
YWCA was a founding member of the multidisciplinary team, helping coordinate services and safety for children and their families/caregivers. YWCA staff provide 24/7 in-person response, case management, advocacy, and linkages to child-specific support groups, therapy, and other resources.
Anti-Trafficking Services
We provide programs in the area of demand reduction, early intervention for sex workers, and individual therapy for adult and child victims of human trafficking. Advocates provide education, accompaniment, counseling and resources for survivors of Sex and/or Labor Trafficking, and Commercially Sexually Exploited Children (CSEC).
Your YWCA provides free services that are trauma-responsive and culturally responsive for people of all races, genders, and sexual orientations. We endeavor to create safe, accessible spaces that prioritize inclusion and promote the autonomy, strengths, existing support networks, and resiliency of survivors. Services are designed to be low barrier, seamless, integrated, and grounded in survivor feedback and lived experience.
