STANDING WITH SURVIVORS (SwS)
Standing with Survivors is a mobile advocacy initiative that provides legal support, essential resources, and emotional assistance directly to survivors of intimate partner abuse, wherever they are.
Our goal is to empower survivors to achieve legal, financial, and emotional independence by connecting them with critical resources that help them regain stability, whether in the community, at the courthouse, or through our mobile services.
Through partnerships with healthcare providers, community organizations, law enforcement, and AVLF programs, our mobile advocates connect with survivors, ensuring they don’t have to navigate this journey alone.
Read about Connie, a Standing with Survivors client. Her story →
How We Help Survivors
For many survivors, seeking help isn’t as simple as walking into a courthouse or calling a hotline. Fear, financial dependence, lack of transportation, and childcare responsibilities often create barriers to safety and support.
We bridge this gap by bringing legal advocacy and essential support services directly to survivors, meeting them where they feel safest.
Our community-based approach ensures survivors have access to support through three key service areas:
Mobile Advocacy Services
Our trauma-informed “safe-haven” van provides a confidential space where survivors can receive support in a survivor-led, empowering environment.
By meeting survivors at accessible, community-centered locations such as libraries, public parking lots, and parks, we remove barriers to essential legal and advocacy services. These services include, but are not limited to:
- Legal consultations with attorneys and advocacy from social workers
- Virtual court hearing attendance
- Resource navigation and referrals to supportive services
Social Work Services
Our social work team, located both in the community and at the Safe Families Office, provides comprehensive, holistic support to survivors facing crises such as intimate partner abuse, eviction, and other legal challenges. These services include, but are not limited to:
- Emotional support and trauma-informed guidance
- Safety planning tailored to each survivor’s needs
- Referrals to essential services, such as counseling, housing assistance, food, and transportation support
Community Outreach Services
We actively engage with the community to increase awareness of our services and strengthen partnerships. Our outreach efforts include:
- Providing information and resources at community events
- Attending community meetings to educate service providers and stakeholders
- Conducting specialized training sessions on intimate partner abuse and survivor advocacy