Staying Safe During Social Distancing
Social distancing may cause victims of abuse and exploitation to feel isolated, which can increase their risk for serious injury. While we are modifying our approach during the COVID-19 crisis, to provide more services via telecommunication, we want to assure the community that our domestic violence and human trafficking intervention services are still available to assist victims in need.
Call our Domestic Violence/Human Trafficking hotline at 1-800-636-6738, dial 211 or text your zip code to 898211 to access support, 24/7.
Services include: Crisis counseling, safety planning, shelter, and advocacy.
Increasing A Survivor’s Digital Safety During Social Distancing
Abusers will often use technology to track and harm their partners. Maintaining safe digital spaces and accessing help can be especially difficult during times of social distancing.
Here are some tips for safely accessing help and increasing your digital safety practices, during, and after an abusive relationship:
- Use the Exit-This–Site button to quickly leave a domestic violence resource site like ours, if your abuser enters the room
- Delete browser history, emails, and text messages on all your devices when researching or communicating about accessing help
- Turn off location services on your phone (pictures have location details that can be viewed by other people if they receive the picture)
- Change your passwords regularly and keep them confidential
- Change your privacy settings on all social media accounts to private
- If you can’t safely call a hotline, text 898211 and provide your zip code. A 211 Call Specialist will connect you with your local DV resources.
Click here to learn more about how you can increase your digital safety. https://www.techsafety.org/resources-survivors
Interface’s Family Violence Intervention Services department provides comprehensive family violence programming that aims to prevent, interrupt and end the cycle of violence within family systems.
To inquire about the availability of the programs below during the COVID-19 crisis please call (805) 485-6114 ext 647.
Crisis Response
24/7 assistance including: crisis counseling, safety planning, referrals, linkage to safe shelter, restraining orders and immediate in-person response to calls from law enforcement and medical providers.
Support Groups
Safe and supportive weekly groups for women who have been impacted by domestic violence.
Safe Have Emergency Shelter
A 30-day, confidential shelter for victims fleeing domestic violence. Services offered include: safe shelter, food, clothing, case management, counseling, legal and social service advocacy and other supports tailored to each person’s individual needs. Safe Haven is a pet friendly shelter.
Safe Journey Transitional Shelter
Safe, longer-term shelter which includes case management, counseling and additional services to support each participant through their healing process. The program promotes safety, personal growth and self-sufficiency.
Preventing Family Violence
Child Sexual Abuse Prevention “My Body Belongs to Me”
A personal safety/child abuse prevention program, My Body Belongs to Me, is for children from preschool through 6th grade and their families. The program works to educate and empower children in a non-threatening way, so that they may be better equipped to avoid abuse. This safety program teaches children how to respond to potentially dangerous people and situations. The program is offered to schools, day-care centers and other child care and youth facilities free of charge. To learn more about the My Body Belongs to Me Program call (805) 485-6114 ext. 691.
Teen Dating Violence Prevention
The Teen Dating Violence Prevention Program provides school-based prevention programming to high school students throughout Ventura County. The program includes three, one-hour presentations which are provided over the course of one semester. Presentation topics include discussions on the various forms of dating violence, including emotional, verbal, digital, and physical abuse, and encourages teens to develop healthy communication skills and relationships. For more information or to schedule a presentation please call (805) 485-6114 ext. 691.
> Interface’s Teen Dating Violence Prevention Website
> Click here to view the schools Interface is currently providing these programs.
Community Awareness & Outreach
Community awareness and outreach are provided through presentations, informational booths and resources free of charge on topics related to family violence prevention. Our outreach staff and volunteers speak at schools/universities, faith centers, places of employment, medical facilities, law enforcement agencies, health fairs and community events.
The following presentations are available:
- Domestic Violence 101
- Effects of Domestic Violence on Children
- Domestic Violence and the Work Place
- Domestic Violence for Health Care Practitioners
Call (805) 485-6114, ext. 652 for more information or to schedule a presentation.
Interface Children & Family Services provides programs and in-person emergency response for victims of domestic violence. Sometimes clients have nothing more than their person. Care Bags ensure that survivors’ immediate, concrete needs are met as well as provide dignity as they begin to re- build their lives. View our full list of in-kind needs here.
Project Hope features art created by Interface clients, their children, and advocates. For domestic violence survivors, art is a powerful healing tool. Project Hope raises awareness and provides hope when there is none for friends, family, and neighbors who may be suffering in silence, afraid to seek help.
Project Hope is a traveling art exhibit throughout Ventura County that acts as a voice to inspire advocacy to end domestic violence in our region. Since art is an amazing language that can cross-cultural, social and economic lines, the pieces inform, educate and communicate the message of hope for this epidemic. To have Project Hope displayed at your office, school or event, please contact Anna Bell at abell@icfs.org or (805) 485-6114 ext 667.
