Domestic Violence

What it is and what services are available?

The Alpine County Women's Center provides comprehensive support for victims of domestic violence and options for healing the whole family. Domestic violence takes many forms and includes physical, emotional, verbal, financial, and sexual abuse (including marital rape).

Here are some examples of the many forms of domestic violence:

• Physical Abuse: kicking, hitting, slapping, punching, pinching, burning, scratching, spitting, attempted strangulation, forced confinement
• Emotional/Verbal Abuse: intimidation, isolation from family and friends, hurtful name-calling, extreme jealousy, constant need for control, threats, humiliation, blaming, breaking or destroying items that are special to the victim
• Financial Abuse: controlling all finances, spending money set aside for basic needs on other things (such as drugs, alcohol, gambling, etc.), forcing the victim to write bad checks, stealing ATM/debit/credit cards, selling items that are precious to the victim, ruining the victim's credit, stealing food stamps from the victim and using them for him/herself
• Sexual Abuse: Unwanted touching or fondling, forcing unwanted sexual acts (even if the perpetrator is your husband/wife), forcing sexual relations with other people

If you have been a victim of domestic violence, you have options. Our Domestic Violence Program provides the following services:

• 24-hour crisis line staffed by trained Advocates: (888) 750-6444
• Crisis intervention
• Individual and group counseling for victims of violence and their children
• Batterers' Intervention and Treatment Program (currently held at the South Lake Tahoe office)
• Emergency and Transitional Housing Programs
• Emergency food, clothing and transportation
• Accompaniment and advocacy for victims throughout medical, mediation and legal processes
• Community outreach, education and referral

Please call our office at 694-1853 or stop by anytime at 14810 Highway 89, above Choices for Children in Markleeville.

Our toll-free crisis line is available 24-hours a day at: (888) 750-6444