State-by-State Guide to Domestic Violence Victim Services

Domestic violence or intimate partner violence (IPV), domestic abuse, or relationship abuse is abusive behavior patterns used by one partner to get or keep power and control over another partner in an intimate relationship. Domestic violence can include physical, emotional, psychological, sexual, and economic abuse or threats.

Laws Against Domestic Violence

Laws against domestic violence vary from state to state in how domestic violence is defined and prosecuted. Legal aspects of domestic violence are often poorly defined and charged in some states. On the federal level, the Violence Against Women Act offers protection from abusers who cross state lines to commit domestic violence in various situations.

Domestic Violence Services and Resources by State 

Alabama

Alabama Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ACADV). The Alabama Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ACADV) serves domestic violence survivors in Alabama through shelters and a 24-hour crisis line. They supply training, technical help, support to domestic violence center programs, and advocacy for domestic violence survivors.

Alaska

Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (ANDVSA).

The ANDVSA has 23 member programs to provide confidential services for domestic violence survivors, including shelters, 24-hour hotlines, transportation, advocacy, legal advocacy, court accompaniment, and support groups. They also offer food, clothing, and other essential items, rural outreach, and counseling. Their SART (Sexual Assault Response Teams) reaches out to survivors of sexual assault, and their DART (Disability Abuse Response Teams) helps survivors of domestic violence with disabilities.

Arizona

Arizona Department of Economic Security. The Arizona Department of Economic Security lists shelters and other resources for domestic violence survivors. Their Community Services has contractual agreements with organizations throughout the state to provide services to survivors of domestic violence and their families.  

Arkansas

Arkansas Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ACADV). The Arkansas Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ACADV) does not directly offer shelter or other services to domestic violence survivors but partners with other service providers.

California

California Partnership to End Domestic Violence (the Partnership). The California Partnership to End Domestic Violence (the Partnership) is a domestic violence coalition with over 1,000 advocates, organizations, and allied groups throughout the state. They advocate for public policy and education to advance social change.

Colorado

Colorado’s Domestic Violence Program (DVP). Colorado’s Domestic Violence Program (DVP) has resources for survivors of domestic violence and legal information. They have a list of free and confidential domestic violence advocacy services funded by the DVP and other resources.

Connecticut  

Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CCADV). The CCADV is a membership organization of Connecticut’s 18 domestic violence service agencies. These service agencies provide counseling, support groups, and emergency shelter. They offer court advocacy, safety planning, lethality assessment, and other services.

Delaware

Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The DCADV acts as a resource and advocacy organization. They offer education, advocacy, and help for domestic violence survivors.

District of Columbia (DC)

DC Safe. DC Safe helps survivors through the legal system in DC with immediate systems advocacy. They educate people about domestic violence and advocate in the legislative process. DC Safe is building a shelter for domestic violence survivors.

Florida

Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse, Inc. (AVDA®). AVDA® is an organization to help domestic violence survivors. They have a hotline, residential services, outreach services, education and prevention, and health and wellness resources.

Georgia

Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence (GCADV). The GCADV provides a 24-hour statewide hotline for coordinating access to safety and support. They offer BRIDGES Deaf Advocacy Program to provide services to deaf and hard of hearing domestic violence survivors and work with incarcerated domestic violence survivors, among others.

Hawaii

Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence includes at least twenty domestic violence agencies and programs. These organizations supply resources for domestic violence victims and survivors throughout Hawaii, which accounts for most of the state’s domestic violence agencies and programs.

Idaho

Idaho Domestic Violence Court Website. The Idaho Domestic Violence Court Website offers information about domestic violence, laws, advocacy, and resources for survivors of domestic violence.

Illinois

Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV). The Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence is an advocacy organization that provides direct help to survivors. They also advocate for safer policies, train leaders and volunteers for advocacy work, and give technical help to member organizations.

Indiana

Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence is an advocacy organization to educate, advocate, and train people against domestic violence. They have links to resources, but the organization is not a domestic violence shelter.

Iowa

Domestic Violence Intervention Program. The mission of the Domestic Violence Intervention Program is to help domestic violence survivors. They offer a 24-hour helpline and work against human trafficking.

Kansas

Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence (KCSDV). The KCSDV organization trains professionals to collaborate on public policy with partners and lawmakers, increasing awareness about sexual and domestic violence. It’s a coalition network of twenty-five member programs across Kansas that supply client services to victims and survivors of sexual and domestic violence.

Kentucky

Kentucky Coalition Against Domestic Violence (KCADV). The KCADV administers $13 million in state and federal funds to 15 member programs, runs a Certification Program for domestic violence program staff, and operates an Economic Empowerment Program. They advocate for domestic violence protection at the state and federal levels.

Louisiana

Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence. This organization is a federally designated statewide coalition of shelters, non-residential programs, and individuals to end domestic violence. They offer resources such as training, advocacy, and education.

Maine

Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence. This organization works to end commercial sex trafficking, dating abuse, domestic abuse, elder abuse, and stalking. They use advocacy, education, technical help, and partnerships against domestic violence.

Maryland

Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence. This organization is the state domestic violence coalition, bringing together victim service providers, professionals, and concerned individuals to reduce intimate partner and family violence.

Massachusetts

Massachusetts Government Domestic Violence Resources. The Massachusetts Government Domestic Violence Resources offers links and hotlines to resources in Massachusetts for domestic violence survivors. In addition, the page supplies both local and national links for domestic violence survivors.

Michigan

Michigan Coalition to End Domestic & Sexual Violence. The MCEDSV is committed to developing and promoting efforts to cut domestic and sexual violence. They offer a hotline, advocacy, and education.

Minnesota

Violence Free Minnesota: The Coalition to End Relationship Abuse. Violence Free Minnesota was formerly the Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women. It’s a statewide coalition of over ninety member programs to end relationship abuse. They support, educate, and connect member programs.

Mississippi

Mississippi Coalition Against Domestic Violence (MCADV). The MCADV provides education, training sessions, special events, and other resources. In addition, they raise public awareness about domestic violence, technical help, and resource distribution.

Missouri

Missouri Coalition Against Domestic Violence (MCADV). MOCADSV is Missouri’s only domestic and sexual violence technical assistance and education provider. In addition, they are an advocacy group providing other groups with technical help, advocacy, and education.

Montana

Montana Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence (MCADSV). MCADSV offers support and connections for domestic violence survivors. The organization also advocates in the public policy arena and supplies technical help and training.

Nebraska

Nebraska Domestic Violence Sexual Assault Coalition. The Nebraska Domestic Violence Sexual Assault Coalition is an advocacy, education, and services organization. It offers a 24-Hour crisis line, help with obtaining domestic abuse protection orders, emotional support through court proceedings, and referrals to attorneys. They also provide shelter from abuse, ongoing support, information, emergency transportation, education and prevention programs, and medical advocacy and referrals.

Nevada

The Nevada Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence. This organization does not offer emergency shelter but provides resources, advocacy, education, and support for front-line organizations. They help find financial resources and technical assistance. Other resources, including shelters, are in Domestic Violence – Nevada Information and Assistance

New Hampshire

New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. The organization offers advocacy, prevention, and empowerment for people affected by domestic violence, human trafficking, sexual violence, and stalking. They coordinate a Family Violence Prevention Specialist Program, AmeriCorps Victim Assistance Program, Trauma-Informed Services, and a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program.

New Jersey

Office of the Attorney General. The Office of the Attorney General links to groups and shelters in New Jersey. The site offers information about domestic violence.

New Mexico

New Mexico Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The New Mexico Coalition Against Domestic Violence offers programs in economic justice, projects to help children, and battering and strangulation intervention programs. They are sensitive to the LGBTQ+ community with their Safe to Be You program and reach out to those with disabilities with their service animal program. Companion animal rescue programs are available. 

New York

New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NYSCADV). This organization provides advocacy, training, support, and technical assistance to domestic violence programs across New York State. In addition, they partner with other organizations to deliver services.

North Carolina

North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCCADV). The NCCADV works to end domestic violence through collaborations with other organizations and training. Prevention, technical help, state policy development, and legal advocacy. They partner with other organizations to deliver services and advocate.

North Dakota

CAWS North Dakota. This organization is the statewide sexual and domestic violence coalition to supply a single voice for 20 crisis intervention centers across North Dakota. Their areas of expertise are identification, intervention, and prevention.

Ohio

Ohio Domestic Violence Network (ODVN). The Ohio Domestic Violence Network’s purpose is to offer training, public awareness, and technical assistance. They promote social change through public policy.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. They offer resources such as mental health, advocacy, and training resources. The organization seeks to educate about and prevent domestic violence.

Oregon

Oregon Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. The Oregon Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence is not a direct service organization. They offer advocacy, training, education, and resources for providers.

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence (PCADV). Founded in 1976, this organization is the oldest statewide domestic violence coalition in the nation. It offers 59 local domestic violence programs to provide free, confidential services.

Rhode Island

Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence (RICADV). The Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence (RICADV) is not a service provider for domestic violence survivors but an organization that supports and assists domestic violence agencies. Its network of member agencies provides services, including emergency shelters, support groups, counseling services, and legal system assistance.

South Carolina

South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (SCCADVASA). The SCCADVASA member organizations supply hotlines, safety planning, free and confidential advocacy, emergency shelter, counseling, and other services for domestic violence survivors, their children, and families.

South Dakota

South Dakota Network Against Family Violence and Sexual Assault (SDNAFVSA). The SDNAFVSA is involved in many state projects. They provide training, technical assistance, and free legal services for domestic violence survivors. Their rural outreach services help women in underserved areas and offer emergency services funding.

Tennessee

Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence (The Coalition). The Coalition is an advocacy group for domestic violence survivors, establishing shelters and help centers. These groups include Coalition Legal Clinics, Dianne Stewart Emergency Assistance Fund for Victims, Domestic Violence State Coordinating Council, and Women’s Resource Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence, among others.

Texas

Texas Advocacy Project. The Texas Advocacy Project offers free legal services, education, and advocacy. They also provide information for survivors and training opportunities for providers. 

Utah

Utah Domestic Violence Coalition. The Utah Domestic Violence Coalition’s mission is to end domestic violence through advocacy, education, collaboration, and leadership. They offer training, education, and technical assistance to their members.

Vermont

Vermont Network. The Vermont Network is a membership organization with 15 advocacy organizations providing help to survivors of violence. They educate, train, and assist their members.

Virginia

Virginia’s Judicial System: Domestic Violence Programs and Services. This is a page for domestic violence resources and links to help domestic violence survivors.

Washington State

Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence (WSCADV). WSCADV is a resource for programs that help domestic violence survivors and their families. They advocate for legislation in the Washington State Legislature and Congress, educate their members and the public about policies, and help their members communicate with legislators.

West Virginia

West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence offers batterer intervention programs, crisis counseling, legal advocacy, and children’s services, among many other initiatives, including prevention programs and public education.

Wisconsin

The Wisconsin Department of Children and Families. The Wisconsin Department of Children and Families has resource links and telephone numbers for domestic violence survivors to get help.

Wyoming

Wyoming Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (WCADVSA). The WCADVSA provides expert assistance in direct services, prevention, representing victims, and training medical and criminal justice professionals. They also educate and advocate.

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