Abuse & Sexual Assault

Peace in the Home 24/7 Helpline – (888) 847-7205

One toll-free number provides single-line access to DV services in 14 languages. There is no need to call multiple phone numbers and multiple agencies to find the right help. 

Abused Deaf Women’s Advocacy Services (Seattle)

Our advocates are here to assist people who are survivors of Domestic and Sexual Violence and who need help.  Our services are free of charge and available to people who are Deaf, DeafBlind or hard of hearing and are residents of King, Pierce or Snohomish County.

206-812-1001

API Chaya (Seattle) 

API Chaya empowers survivors of gender-based violence and human trafficking to gain safety, connection, and wellness.  We build power by educating and mobilizing South Asian, Asian, Pacific Islander, and all immigrant communities to end exploitation, creating a world where all people can heal and thrive. (Services available to people of all cultural backgrounds)

Toll-free helpline: 1-877-922-4292 (1-877-92-CHAYA) 

LifeWire (Bellevue)

When you reach out to LifeWire, you will be paired with a trained advocate who will offer you one-on-one support in person, over the phone, and through email. All of our advocates are trained to serve everyone, including immigrants, men, people who identify as LGBTQ, and teens. If you or someone you know is worried about your relationship or experiencing violence at home, call our 24-Hour Helpline: 425-746-1940 or 1-800-827-8840. 

If you are worried about cell phone or email safety, you can fill in the below contact form at https://www.lifewire.org/get-help/

The Northwest Network (Seattle)

The NW Network has provided services by and for the LGBT community for over 25 years. We offer skilled support for survivors of domestic, dating and sexual abuse.

(206)568-7777

ReWa (Seattle)

ReWA strives to increase the safety and well-being of refugee and immigrant women by raising awareness of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking and providing support to survivors. Comprehensive support services in 17 languages.

(206)721-0243

NATIONAL:

Loveisrespect.org (1.800.331.9474)

Peer advocates available 24/7 to support teens with concerns about dating violence. Chat available thru their website, or text loveis to 22522.

Domestic violence is not caused by illness (mental or physical), genetics, alcohol or drugs, anger, stress, behavior of the survivor, or relationship problems. While these factors may exacerbate abusive behaviors and/or increase lethality, they do not CAUSE the abuse. Domestic violence is a choice made by the person using abuse to sustain power and control over their partner.

What does DOMESTIC VIOLENCE LOOK LIKE?

Although commonly presented as such by the media, domestic violence does not always take the form of physical abuse. Many times, survivors think that just because their partner is not hitting them, that they are not a survivor of domestic violence. By knowing the tactics abusive parters/family members use to gain control of their partner(s), it may assist you in understanding the ways domestic violence may show up in an abusive relationship.

• Forms of Abuse –  These lists offer up examples of different types of violence.

• Power & Control Wheel/ Expanded Power & Control Wheel – Tactics used to gain and maintain power and control over another manifest in many ways. The Power & Control Wheel may help to conceptualize some ways this may show up in abusive relationships. The expanded Power & Control Wheel may help to show how these behaviors are reinforced by larger systems and social structures.

• Are You Abused or At Risk for Abuse? – Be aware of potential red flags in a relationship. This list may help you identify concerning characteristics & behaviors in a partner/relationship

(Source: WOMAN, Inc.)

What is TDV? Teen Dating Violence falls under the large umbrella of "domestic violence or intimate partner violence." is an intentional pattern of behaviors that a person uses  to exercise power and control over a dating partner. While popular culture often only depicts violence as a physical thing, abuse is so much more than that. TDV can also include emotional, verbal, psychological, digital, sexual and financial abuse. 

Who does TDV happen to? It can really happen to anyone and has an impact that ripples through our communities. While TDV happens to people of all genders, systemic marginalization puts BIPOC & LGBTQ young folks at greater risk for multiple forms of violence, including dating violence. Abuse does not occur in a vacuum – it’s important to understand the many ways violence is normalized/reinforced through our institutions, homes and within ourselves. 

How common is TDV? Dating violence is one of the most underreported forms of harm in the country; we can assume the below stats are underestimated:

• 1 in 3 teens will experience physical, emotional or sexual abuse by something they are dating before becoming adults

• 43% of college aged women report experiencing abusive dating behaviors

• 29% of heterosexual and 43% of LGBT youth experience physical dating violence

• For trans youth, 89% report experiencing physical dating violence and 61% having been sexually coerced.

• 1 in 10 teen survivors will report the abuse and this proportion, while it is not well documented, is much smaller for Black & Indigenous youth.

What can I do? Most of the time, we know survivors talk to their friends & family first before ever going to their schools or a hotline and waaayy before considering law enforcement (if at all). When we treat a survivor with dignity & respect, we create a pathway of safety for that person to share about what’s been going on with them.

For adults: 

• Talk to the young folks in your life about consent, boundaries and healthy relationships. Model these dynamics in your relationships.

• Check in & be curious, not judgmental.

• Honor young relationships. Often, adults will write off teen relationships as ‘puppy love.’ When we take young relationships seriously, you let them know you’ll take harm within those relationships seriously. 

• Come up with a safety plan for “just in case” scenarios. These can include a code word, a meeting place or other agreements that help communicate with each other in the event of a crisis.

For young people:

• Check in with your pals & trust your gut!  

• Identify trusted adults. Please note that adults that work in youth serving organizations,  schools, medical institutions and social services are mandated to report when a minor is at risk for harming themselves or others. 

• Talk about relationship green (yes), yellow (maybe), and red (no) flags. Is it ever ok for a partner to have your phone password? Is jealousy a healthy thing? Do you prioritize your “me time”? How do you know if you’re being love-bombed?

• Get familiar with anti-violence organizations in your area & look into workshops.

Prompts for reflection or discussion

• What makes a healthy relationship? 

• How do you define consent? 

• What are boundaries and why are they important?

• What are some relationship red flags? 

• What are some relationship green flags?

• Safety Planning Checklist 

• Podmapping 

There is no universal age of consent for all legal issues related to your sexual assault. The age varies depending on the issue.

• The right to consent to sexual intercourse is 16 years

• The right to consent to medical examination or treatment without parental notification is 13 years

• The right to file for a protection order on your own is 15 years

• For Title IX cases involving your school, if you are under 18 years old, any teacher or school staff you report a sexual assault to is a mandatory reporter and the school is obligated to follow through with an investigation.

(Source: Sexual Violence Law Center)

Rape kits/sexual assault medical exams are not performed at every medical center. If you are seeking medical care due to sexual assault, here are the 24/7 Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) locations in King County:

Evergreen Health

• Emergency Room - Kirkland  (425)899-1711

• Emergency Room - Redmond (425)899-1111

Harborview Abuse & Trauma Center 

• Seattle (206)744-1600 

More information about SANE exams here. Call for more information on what to expect, & what kind of support is available to you.

King County Sexual Assault Resource Center (Renton)

KCSARC is a victim-advocacy organization that provides critical support, tools, and direct services to children, teens, women and men who are victims of sexual assault. KCSARC works with clients of all ages and from all backgrounds.

24-Hour Resource Line:  (888)99.VOICE (888-998-6423) 

Dando Voz Tel: (425)282- 0324 (en Espanol)

(FOR LEGAL HELP) Sexual Violence Law Center (SVLC)

The Sexual Violence Law Center (SVLC) is a nonprofit law firm that seeks to improve the legal response to survivors of sexual violence. Our advocacy is based in race and gender equity principles. SVLC is the only legal aid program of its kind in Washington, providing holistic legal assistance and representation exclusively to victims of sexual violence, assault, abuse, harassment and stalking.

Abused Deaf Women’s Advocacy Services (Seattle)

Our advocates are here to assist people who are survivors of Domestic and Sexual Violence and who need help.  Our services are free of charge and available to people who are Deaf, DeafBlind or hard of hearing and are residents of King, Pierce or Snohomish County.

206-812-1001

API Chaya (Seattle)

API Chaya empowers survivors of gender-based violence and human trafficking to gain safety, connection, and wellness.  We build power by educating and mobilizing South Asian, Asian, Pacific Islander, and all immigrant communities to end exploitation, creating a world where all people can heal and thrive. 

Toll-free helpline: 1(877)922-4292 (1-877-92-CHAYA)

ReWa (Seattle)

ReWA strives to increase the safety and well-being of refugee and immigrant women by raising awareness of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking and providing support to survivors. Comprehensive support services in 17 languages.

(206)721-0243

National Hotline:  RAINN (1.800.656.HOPE)

24/7 Support for survivors of sexual assault