Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1401550
FOR ALL AGES & GENDERS Early Education Center Services for survivors Services for children & youth Community education & trainings Volunteer & employment opportunities Our services are free, confidential, & voluntary. 24-hr hotline: 1 (866) 2MY-ALLY Ph: (831) 426-3062 www.wafwc.org You're not alone. Domestic violence is common enough that it's become a recognized public health crisis. What happens behind closed doors at home is often kept secret and the risk and stigma around asking for help in times of trouble can prohibit folks from seeking much need- ed support. Walnut Ave- nue Family & Women's Center (Walnut Avenue) wants to spread the word that no one is alone—sup- port is available! The causes of domestic violence are complex, shaped by societal factors as well as by factors specific to the individuals within a relationship. It can be caused as well as experienced by people of any gender, sexual orien- tation, or other identity. There is no "typical" pic- ture of domestic violence that fits for everyone. Domestic violence (DV), which includes intimate partner violence (IPV), teen dating violence (TDV), elder abuse, and violence between family members, is typically thought of as physical vi- olence, but in reality it can also be emotional, verbal, spiritual, or financial. There is no universal template for what domes- tic violence looks like because it is fundamental- ly about control and fear: one person has control and is causing fear in another in a way that undermines that person's ability to freely consent and make decisions. The specific behaviors in which abuse manifests can vary wildly between people, and unfortunately the cycle of control and fear can escalate to the point of homicide or mass murder, as we have seen frequently in the news. If your relationship is Support For Domestic Violence In Santa Cruz County by Walnut Avenue Shelter causing you any form of harm or fear, or if you're simply not sure what to think, we urge you to reach out for help. Often folks don't want to seek help due to fear of in- volving law enforcement or child welfare services, and so Walnut Avenue endeavors to provide the highest level of confiden- tiality, be fully transpar- ent about options and their potential outcomes, and support people of all genders, sexual orien- tations, and family and relationship models to make their own decisions about what they want and need. People commonly ask, "Why doesn't the person just leave the relation- ship?" and the answer is that it is rarely that simple. Leaving a violent partner can significantly increase the danger. It is advised that a person being harmed take careful steps to develop a safety plan prior to leaving. Certified advocates for survivors of domestic violence can help you assess the dangers and walk you through a safety-planning process. While Walnut Avenue is not itself a shelter, it can arrange safe emer- gency accommodations on a qualifying basis. We also provide a wide variety of family support services, legal advocacy, peer counseling, clinical counseling, and court accompaniment. Walnut Avenue is a local nonprofit organization which has been serving families and individuals throughout the Santa Cruz County community for 88 years. Originating as a local chapter of the YWCA, Walnut Avenue restructured in 1994 to be better able to serve survi- vors of domestic violence. However, services for survivors is not all that we do. We run a subsidized Early Education Center for ages 0-5 in the City of Santa Cruz. We also have prosocial, youth empow- erment programs and provide a wide array of community education as well as volunteer oppor- tunities. There is no single solu- tion to ending domes- tic violence: that will require whole community participation and multi-di- mensional approaches to crisis intervention and prevention. Part of that is helping adults, teens, and children understand what healthy relationships can look like, how people can be more effective allies for friends and family members who may be experiencing violence, and providing appropriate help for people to heal from the violence they've already experienced and witnessed. We want to stop the intergenerational trauma of violence, and this task lies with all of us as a community. But we need help to get the word out before trag- edy strikes again in the form of another one of our own losing their life at the hands of a partner or rel- ative. Please explore our website at www.wafwc. org for more information on services we provide and workshops available for free to the community. If you are interested in having Walnut Avenue's advocates come speak to your class or organization, please contact us at (831) 426-3062. If you are in a relationship that is hurting you or if you're supporting a friend in a harmful relationship, you may call our 24-hour domestic violence hotline 1-866-269-2559 or set up an appointment by calling our office at (831) 426- 3062. For non-confidential inquiries, you may email us at info@wafwc.org. Provided Photo Jacobs Heart Camp Peer-to-Peer has raised $11,160 out of their goal of $30,000 $11,160 Raised$30,000 Goal BECOME A FUND- RAISER DONATE NOW About the Campaign For four years, Jacob's Heart has hosted a sum- mer-camp style weekend retreat for children with cancer and their fami- lies. We combine typical summer camp fun - talent shows, dance parties, arts and crafts, and pony rides - with commu- nity, building robust networks of support among families who understand. Help us create a carefree weekend of fun and healing...where kids are encouraged to simply be kids. https:// give.jacobsheart.org/ campaign/camp-peer- to-peer/c342836