If I tell you that I’m experiencing or have experienced sexual assault or domestic violence, will you have to report it to the police?
No, everything our clients tell us stays between the client and their advocate. It not the same as reporting a crime. We are only here to provide emotional support and guidance; everything the client does beyond that is completely their own choice. Any exceptions to this can be found under our "Client Notice of Rights,” which can be read here.
If I was sexually assaulted or experienced domestic violence in the past, can I still benefit from your organization?
It doesn’t matter whether you experienced sexual assault or domestic violence yesterday or decades ago, you can always reach out to us for help.
Do you take people from counties other than Walsh, Pembina and Cavalier?
Yes! This can happen for a number of reasons, but most often, it’s for the safety of the client. Many times, an individual feels safer moving away from the area where the abuse occurred.
How much do services cost?
All of the services we provide are free. Our funding comes from federal and state grants, and the generous donations from our community’s individuals and businesses. Our services include:
Emergency shelter
Safety planning
Legal advocacy within the criminal justice system
Emotional support
Walk-in services during business hours by trained staff and volunteers
Information and assistance for those evaluating their relationships
Referrals and accompaniment to services such as housing, medical, mental health, financial assistance, child care, skills training, or employment
Assistance with obtaining Domestic Violence Protection Orders and Sexual Assault Restraining Orders
Do you only serve women, or do you also serve men and children?
We absolutely do serve male clients. Although it is not as common, we recognize that males can be victims of domestic violence and sexual assault as well as women, and have plans in place for when we encounter this.
We do serve children depending on the situation. Instances of child abuse in which the individual is under the age of 18 are usually handled by social services. However, if a parent is experiencing spousal abuse and has children under 18 that also need protection, we consider both the parent and their children clients and serve them all as a family.
Sexual abuse of a child can be more complicated. We often work alongside social services to determine the best course of action on a case-by-case basis. We are also able to do Sexual Assault Restraining Orders (SAROs) for children.