Moving Forward Together

Intimate Partner Violence Support Services

(PROJECT SARAH)

Confronting an abusive relationship takes courage. Project SARAH is here to support you.

Project SARAH is a support system for individuals experiencing intimate partner violence. We offer a safe, confidential setting for you to consider your options, work through a mix of feelings, and determine the best way forward for yourself and your family.

When your decision means leaving, we can help you find the best options to support your safety and stability as you work to rebuild your life.

Take the Next Step

“I couldn’t have made it to where I am today without the support I’ve received. I’m forever grateful.”

NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE IN YOUR JOURNEY

Project SARAH offers…

Committed Partnership

In sorting through your options and making a plan.

Guidance and Referrals

To help you access safe housing, community resources, and public benefits.

Legal Assistance

Related to navigating personal rights, restraining orders, and issues of child custody.

Empowerment Groups

Where you’ll find the support of others who can relate to your experiences and challenge you to grow as you work through them.

The signs of abuse aren’t always physical.

Abuse can include emotional coercion, verbal threats and insults, isolation from friends and family, financial control, sexual force, even mockery of your spiritual beliefs. Does your partner do any of the following?

  • Try to control who you see and what you do?
  • Call you names or yell at you?
  • Blame you for their violent actions?
  • Put you down?
  • Act very jealous and/or possessive?
  • Control your finances?
  • Destroy your belongings or hurt your pets?
  • Physically hurt you?
  • Criticize what you wear, what you say, and how you act?
  • Force you to cross your own sexual boundaries?

These are all ways to establish power over you. No one deserves to be abused. You don’t have to take it. We can help.

You can provide critical support to a friend or family member experiencing domestic abuse.

Learn more about what you can do to help.

Acknowledge that they are in a very difficult and scary situation. Believe them. Be supportive and listen. Let them know the abuse is not their fault, that support is available, and that you are willing to help whenever they may need it.

Be non-judgmental. It’s hard to know someone you care about is suffering, but it’s also important to respect their decisions about the relationship. People stay in abusive relationships for many reasons. They may leave and return to the relationship many times. They will need your support even more during those times.

Support their connection to activities and people outside the relationship. The more that someone experiencing abuse feels supported by people who care for them, the easier it will be to leave and stay away from their abusive partner.

Help them develop a safety plan. Whether they are choosing to stay, preparing to leave, or have already left, you can help create a plan to keep them safe. Find resources at www.thehotline.org.

Encourage them to talk to people who can provide help and guidance. Help connect them toa local domestic violence agency that provides counseling or support groups. If they have to go to the police station, court, or lawyer’s office, offer to go along for moral support.

Adapted from National Domestic Violence Hotline

CONNECT TO PROJECT SARAH

We’re here to answer your questions and help you get started.

To Get Help in an Emergency

Project SARAH staff are not able to respond to after hours or emergency phone calls. If you or someone you care about is in crisis and needs immediate help, please call the San Diego Domestic Violence Hotline at (888) 385-4657. You can also call the Access & Crisis Line at (888) 724-7240. Trained and experienced counselors are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help. If emergency medical care is needed, call 9-1-1 or go to the emergency room of the nearest hospital.