🟦 Family Violence, Sexual Violence, and Abuse of Vulnerable People
Organizations working to prevent abuse, support survivors, protect people at risk, and build safer families and communities
This guide is part of a series on Violence Prevention and Community Safety. Check its Introduction for an overview of the series, its goals, and other guides.
Some violence happens in public view. Much of it does not. It happens in homes, relationships, families, schools, care settings, workplaces, institutions, and online spaces. It can include domestic abuse, sexual assault, stalking, coercive control, child abuse, elder abuse, abuse of people with disabilities, financial exploitation, and sexual exploitation, including sex trafficking.
This guide highlights organizations working to prevent abuse, support survivors, protect people at risk, strengthen accountability, and build safer systems of care, justice, and community response.
The focus is not only on crisis response after harm occurs. It is also on prevention, education, healthy relationships, trauma-informed services, economic security, and public policies that help people live with safety and dignity.
Domestic Violence, Survivor Safety, and Victim Support
Issues addressed: Domestic violence, relationship abuse, survivor safety, victim support, shelter and advocacy services, housing, legal support, stalking, technology-facilitated abuse, economic abuse, children and families, prevention education, public policy, and local program support.
Futures Without Violence works to prevent domestic violence, sexual violence, child abuse, and other forms of harm through prevention, public policy, education, training, and partnerships with healthcare providers, educators, judges, employers, coaches, and community leaders. Its work also includes children and families, economic opportunity, and engaging men and boys as part of the solution.
National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV)
NNEDV represents state and U.S. territorial domestic violence coalitions and works to strengthen survivor safety, public policy, housing, economic justice, technology safety, legal information, and local domestic violence programs.
National Domestic Violence Hotline | Local Providers
The National Domestic Violence Hotline provides free, confidential support 24/7/365 for people experiencing domestic violence, intimate partner violence, or relationship abuse. Hotline: 800-799-SAFE (7233).
National Center for Victims of Crime (NCVC) | VictimConnect
The National Center for Victims of Crime supports victims’ rights, policy, training, and victim assistance. Its VictimConnect Resource Center offers confidential referrals and support for victims of all crime types, including stalking and other forms of interpersonal violence. VictimConnect can be reached by phone or text at 855-4-VICTIM (855-484-2846) or through online chat.
Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence
WSCADV supports domestic violence and sexual assault programs across Washington state through training, prevention, public policy, research, housing assistance, legal assistance, technology safety resources, and connections to local advocacy services. Its website also links to more than 70 local domestic violence and sexual assault programs serving Washington residents.
Sexual Violence, Assault Prevention, and Survivor Healing
Issues addressed: Sexual assault, rape, incest, sexual harassment, survivor support, prevention education, hotline services, local rape crisis centers, and public awareness.
RAINN, the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, is the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization. It operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline and also provides the DoD Safe Helpline, a confidential service for members of the U.S. Department of Defense community affected by sexual assault. National Sexual Assault Hotline: 800-656-HOPE (4673). DoD Safe Helpline: 877-995-5247.
National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) | Respect Together
NSVRC, a division of Respect Together, provides research, tools, training, public awareness resources, and prevention strategies for advocates and communities working to end sexual abuse, assault, and harassment. Respect Together supports broader efforts to prevent sexual violence, promote survivor-centered responses, and build safer, more respectful communities. NSVRC also leads national Sexual Assault Awareness Month resources and campaigns.
Children, Elders, Adults with Disabilities, and Vulnerable People
Issues addressed: Child abuse and neglect, adverse childhood experiences, family support, elder abuse, caregiver abuse, neglect, self-neglect, financial exploitation, Adult Protective Services, and abuse of adults with disabilities.
Prevent Child Abuse America | Washington Chapter
Prevent Child Abuse America is a national organization focused on preventing child abuse and neglect before it happens through research-informed programs, family support, community prevention, and public policy. The Washington chapter in its state network is affiliated with Strengthening Families Washington, a program of the state Department of Children, Youth, and Families.
National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA)
The National Center on Elder Abuse provides information and resources on elder abuse research, training, policy, public awareness, and best practices for preventing and responding to elder mistreatment.
National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA)
NAPSA works to strengthen Adult Protective Services at the national, state, and local levels so systems can better recognize, report, respond to, and prevent abuse, neglect, and exploitation of elders and adults with disabilities.
Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking
Issues addressed: Sex trafficking, labor trafficking, commercial sexual exploitation, trafficking prevention, survivor-informed research, justice, restoration, systems change, and public awareness.
Polaris works to prevent and respond to sex and labor trafficking by supporting victims and survivors, using data to understand how trafficking works, and addressing systems that make trafficking possible and profitable.
Based in Vancouver, Washington, Shared Hope International works in the U.S. and around the world to prevent sex trafficking, support restoration for survivors, and advance justice, especially for women, children, and youth vulnerable to or victimized by sex trafficking.
Community-Specific Advocacy
Issues addressed: Gender-based violence in Indigenous, Latino, immigrant, LGBTQ+, HIV-affected, and other communities; domestic violence; sexual assault; dating violence; stalking; hate violence; barriers to services; culturally specific advocacy; and community-led prevention.
National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center (NIWRC)
NIWRC is a Native-led organization addressing gender-based violence in tribal communities, including domestic violence, dating violence, sexual violence, stalking, sex trafficking, and the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women and relatives. Its work connects survivor safety with tribal sovereignty, public policy, training, and community response.
Esperanza United mobilizes Latinas and Latin@ communities to end domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking. Formerly Casa de Esperanza, it works through culturally specific advocacy, training, technical assistance, public policy, community organizing, and support for Latin@ survivors and community-based organizations.
National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP)
NCAVP works to address violence against and within LGBTQ and HIV-affected communities, including domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, stalking, hate violence, harassment, police misconduct, and other forms of victimization.
Related Resource
Community, Youth, and School Violence, focusing on preventing harassment, bullying, youth harm, school violence, assault, and intimidation in public places
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