Threats of violence, destruction of property and/or pets, name calling, humiliating you in front of family and friends, putting you down – all of these things are abuse. Abuse is not caused by alcohol. It is not caused by stress. Abuse happens when one person seeks to hold power over another. At First Step we believe that nobody should have to live with violence or the threat of violence in their
lives. All of First Step's services are free and confidential. They include:
• Hotline and Crisis Intervention Services •
A member of First Step staff is on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
• Shelter •
We offer shelter to all persons fleeing from domestic violence situations regardless of gender. We also accept homeless women and children depending on space.
• Support Group •
Our support group meets every Monday from 5:00- 6:00. We welcome members of the community to come and participate in our support group.
• Legal Advocacy •
Many victims find going through the legal process to be a frightening and overwhelming experience. While we are not attorneys and can’t offer legal counsel, First Step’s Victim Advocate can accompany you to offer moral support and help to create a safe space around you as you go through the process to obtain a Protective Order and/or pressing criminal charges.
• Children's Services and Referrals •
We offer referrals for counseling for both children and adults who have been victimized.
• Case Management Services •
We offer case management services to assist our clients as they transition into an abuse free life.
• Teen Dating Violence •
We offer resources and support for teens who are involved in unhealthy or abusive relationships. Additional information about teen dating violence can be found on our website at www.firststepva.com.
