Domestic Violence in Allen Co.
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National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-441-4073
You can call any day at any time.
Domestic Violence in Allen County
Domestic violence is the use of abuse—physical, sexual, emotional, spiritual, economic, or psychological—to gain control over a partner in a relationship. Anyone can be a victim of domestic violence, regardless of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, or economic status. Allen County is outpacing state and national levels for domestic violence, with very high recidivism rates.
Domestic violence-related calls the FWPD receives annually
10,000
5,836
Domestic violence survivors assisted by Victims Assistance annually
3,600
Domestic violence-related protective orders filed annually
76%
Individuals on domestic violence-related supervised probation with more than one case
Resources
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Center for Nonviolence: The Center for Nonviolence provides education, support, and advocacy to end domestic and other forms of violence. They understand that violence impacts the entire family system; therefore they provide domestic violence services to the entire family – those who've used violence or caused harm, those who've been harmed, and those (children) who have been witness to violence in their home. They offer safe, welcoming, and affirming spaces for individuals and families.
Their bilingual Support & Advocacy team provides safety planning, advocacy, resources (community & legal), and support groups to people whose lives have been impacted by violence. You can reach them at: support@centerfornv.org.
Their certified interventionists work to inspire participants to look deeply at their use of violence and learn how to practice honesty, accountability, and power-sharing in their relationships with others. They offer a Batterer’s Intervention Programming in English, Spanish, and Burmese and Women’s Intervention in English and Spanish. You can reach them at: intervention@centerfornv.org
Their bilingual Prevention & Youth Service team works with children and youth who have witnessed, survived, or perpetuated violence by teaching them skills that work to undermine the cultural norms that fuel and perpetuate domestic and other forms of violence. You can reach them at: prevention@centerfornv.org
260-456-4112
YWCA: YWCA Northeast Indiana provides support to survivors of domestic violence throughout Allen, Wells, Huntington, Whitley, Noble, and Dekalb Counties. Advocates provide:
Legal Advocacy (filing protective orders, connection to attorneys, support in navigating system)
Emotional Support
Connection to community resources that can help you
Safety planning
Education on relationships, abuse, self esteem, and more
Community based support as well as emergency shelter
800-441-4073 (24-hour Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Crisis Line)
Amani: Amani Family Services is a private nonprofit organization serving more than 2,000 families and individuals from around the world who have made Allen County their home. Formerly Crime Victim Care of Allen County, an organization founded in 2006, Amani is the local nonprofit agency entirely devoted to serving refugee and immigrant families and individuals.
260-484-1414
Victims Assistance: The Victim Assistance Program provides comprehensive crime victim services to the City of Fort Wayne and surrounding areas. Victims are assigned a Victim Advocate who will walk alongside them as they navigate the criminal justice system. Advocates initiate contact and inform victims about available services, their rights as crime victims and survivors, and what to expect throughout the criminal justice process.
260-427-1205
Connect Allen County: They are responsible for assisting individuals who are seeking support and services by connecting them to resources within the community. Their navigators will do a brief screening to identify your needs and then will help you narrow down the services that are best for you based on important factors such as insurance and location. They will then work to send out the right referrals to partners so that they can help you get the supports that you need quickly.
260-901-5480
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Victims Assistance: The Victim Assistance Program provides comprehensive crime victim services to the City of Fort Wayne and surrounding areas. Victims are assigned a Victim Advocate who will walk alongside them as they navigate the criminal justice system. Advocates provide outreach to initiate contact and inform victims about available services, their rights as crime victims and survivors, and what to expect throughout the criminal justice process.
260-427-1205
Allen County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office DV Coordinator: Their mission is to prosecute and/or address the overall community problem of Domestic Violence by holding the perpetrator accountable for their actions and by promoting the safety, well-being, and best interests of the victim, the victim’s child(ren) and the community. The office’s Domestic Violence Coordinator serves the victims of domestic violence crimes by providing advocacy support, resources, referrals, and ongoing communication during the prosecution process.
Domestic Violence Coordinator:
260-449-7741 or Prosecutor@acpao.orgSmall Claims Court - Orders of Protection: Petitions for Orders of Protection can be filed online or in person in Allen Superior Court’s Small Claims Division, at 1 West Superior Street in downtown Fort Wayne. Under Indiana Code, petitioners may seek an order of protection if they have been a victim of: Domestic or family violence, Stalking, A sex offense, including child grooming, and/or Harassment.
Those needing assistance completing the forms may schedule an appointment with Superior Court’s Protection Order Specialist. Appointments are scheduled in 15-minute increments.
Appointments can be scheduled at 260-449-3444 or protectiveorder@allensuperiorcourt.us or in-person.
public.courts.in.gov/porefsp#/Indiana Legal Services: They are a not-for-profit law firm and the largest provider of free civil legal assistance to eligible low-income people in Indiana. ILS helps clients who are faced with legal problems that harm their ability to have such basics as food, shelter, income, medical care, or personal safety. ILS handles cases in areas including family law where there is domestic violence, housing, consumer law, access to health care, and access to government benefits.
260-424-9155
Volunteer Lawyer Program: The VLP offers attorney services to individuals with limited financial resources in many areas of civil law including divorce, bankruptcy, contracts, consumer issues, real estate, health care, and estate law. The VLP cannot provide assistance in the areas of criminal law or Children in Need of Services (CHINS).
260-407-0917 or 877- 407-0917 Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Allen County Bar Association Legal Line: Do you have a legal question? Not sure if you need to hire an attorney? Then take advantage of Legal Line. You can speak directly with an attorney for free every Tuesday evening from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. by calling 260-423-2358
Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence: ICADV can provide help by connecting a survivor in a local domestic violence program to a local or regional attorney who can assist with emergency legal issues (such as protective orders). ICADV will cover costs at a modest means level and pay the costs of travel for the survivor.
Contact YWCA at 800-441-4073 24-hour Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Crisis Line
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Sexual Assault Treatment Center: The Fort Wayne Sexual Assault Treatment Center is a recognized and credentialed provider offering specialized medical forensic examinations to men, women, and children in Allen and the surrounding counties. Our board-certified sexual assault nurse examiners are available 24/7/365 and use a patient-centered, trauma-informed approach when providing care to patients. All services are at no cost.
260-423-2222
Bowen Health: They are the largest Community Mental Health Center in Indiana and now serve also as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). Bowen Health has expanded access to care for patients by integrating primary health care with mental health care, addiction recovery treatment, and life-skills coaching.
800-342-5653
Neighborhood Health: They offer a wide range of services at one location including medical and behavioral health. They can meet all of your family’s healthcare needs in one place. If you need assistance selecting or enrolling in insurance, they can help with that, too. Bilingual staff are available to assist in a variety of languages.260-458-2641
Matthew 25: Matthew 25 Health and Care is a healthcare center that provides high-quality medical, dental, vision, and mental health services at no charge to low-income, uninsured adults in Northeast Indiana and Northwest Ohio.
260-426-3250
Positive Resource Connection: Their case managers offer medical assistance, treatment support, housing aid, food pantry benefits, and more for HIV+ and Hepatits C+ clients.
positiveresourceconnection.org
260-744-1144
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Bowen Health: They are the largest Community Mental Health Center in Indiana and now serve also as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). Bowen Health has expanded access to care for patients by integrating primary health care with mental health care, addiction recovery treatment, and life-skills coaching.
800-342-5653
Phoenix Associates: Phoenix Associates serves the Fort Wayne community through their outpatient mental health facility, providing sensitive, expert, and individualized care to community members from all walks of life. Their team of licensed social workers, marriage and family therapists, and mental health counselors have the tools and training to meet your treatment needs. Services are offered in individual, family, and group settings
260-424-0411
Park Center: Parkview Behavioral Health Institute provides the highest quality of mental and emotional healthcare. Our providers and mental health experts provide supportive care that is tailored to each adult and their mental health needs.
260-471-9440
Headwaters Counseling: General counseling is our largest program that is built to provide services to individuals, groups, or families. Our licensed counselors focus on many areas including life transitions, behavior issues, anxiety, depression, relationships, and more.
260-744-4326
Courageous Healing: Our therapists are culturally responsive and have diverse disciplines and backgrounds. They are here to help you heal and grow personally, vocationally, and relationally. We can help you navigate depression, anxiety, grief, self-esteem, anger, stress, relationships, and more.
260-255-3514
Crosswinds Counseling: Crosswinds Counseling provides outpatient mental health counseling for children, teens, adults, couples, and families. We have a diverse group of Licensed and Master’s Level counselors who come from different backgrounds and have different therapeutic approaches. Our goal is to bring hope to individuals, families, and communities.
877-594-9204
Quality Counseling & Psychological Services: Quality Counseling & Psychological Services provides the survivor-focused Domestic Violence Education Program. This program provides resources such as group or individual education classes, advocacy, case work services, and counseling.
260-739-7264
SCAN’s DV Therapy: SCAN provides comprehensive Domestic Violence Services which include Education Services, Survivor Support Groups, and Therapeutic Services. SCAN is also a Certified Batterers Intervention site providing Batterer’s Intervention Program services to Allen and the surrounding counties.
800-752-7116
YWCA: YWCA Northeast Indiana provides help and support for survivors of sexual violence and domestic violence through crisis intervention, counseling, and support group services. All services are FREE to anyone affected by that violence, including men, women, adolescents, children, and entire families.
For more information about these services, contact us via email at therapyos@ywcaerew.org or visit ywcanein.org
Myth Busters
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Reality: Domestic violence (also referred to as intimate partner violence (IPV), dating abuse, or relationship abuse) is a pattern of behaviors used by one partner to maintain power and control over another partner in an intimate relationship. Domestic Violence can happen to anyone. People of any race, age, gender, sexuality, religion, education level, or economic status can be a victim (or the cause) of domestic violence. That includes behaviors that physically harm, intimidate, manipulate, or control a partner, or otherwise force them to behave in ways they don’t want to, including through physical violence, threats, emotional abuse, or financial control.
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Reality: Any time one person hits another person, it's considered assault, which is physical abuse. You may think this is the first time you've been abused, but often other types of abuse precede physically striking out. Do they frequently criticize you? Call you names? Prevent you from seeing friends or family? Have they humiliated you in public? Blocked your exit from a room? Denied that their actions are serious or implied that you're just being oversensitive? All of these actions are emotionally and verbally abusive, and each of them can lead to physical abuse.
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Reality: Marital rape is a serious form of violence and an often-present component of domestic violence. It is illegal in all 50 states. Marital rape occurs when your spouse forces you to take part in sex acts without your consent. This includes any unwanted intercourse or penetration obtained by force, threat of force, or when the spouse is unable to consent.
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Reality: Domestic abuse does not always include physical violence. Domestic abuse is an incident or patterns of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading and violence behavior, including sexual violence, by a partner or ex-partner. This can include coercive control, psychological or emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, financial abuse, harassment, stalking, or online abuse.
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Reality: It seems like a no-win situation. When someone you’re close to says something like this. First, understand that this is a form of emotional abuse: your partner is trying to manipulate you by playing on your feelings of love and fear for them. You might get angry when this happens, but you also might feel like you have to give in to them in order to avoid a potential tragedy. Remember, you are not your partner’s counselor, and you can’t force your partner to get help if they don’t want to. They have to make that choice for themselves.