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Center for Study and Prevention of Gender-Based Violence

Department of Women & Gender Studies >

Empowering Change: Resources for Combating Gender-Based Violence

 

The Center for the Study and Prevention of Gender-Based Violence at the University of Delaware offers a comprehensive array of resources to address and prevent gender-based violence. The Center provides training for students and professionals in victim-service work and prevention practices, hosts an annual advocate-in-residence program, and offers career development opportunities. It maintains a Gender-Based Violence in Sports Database to enhance access to information on occurrences and outcomes in professional and collegiate athletics. The Center also supports faculty fellows, post-doctoral scholars, and graduate and undergraduate research assistants in their scholarly pursuits. Through partnerships with national organizations, the Center offers robust public and campus programming and places University of Delaware students in local and national service organizations for professional practicums. These resources collectively contribute to the Center's mission of understanding and ameliorating the causes and effects of gender-based violence.

On-Campus Resources

If you are in immediate danger, call 911.

If you are in an abusive relationship, or know someone who is, contact your local 24-hour domestic violence hotline to learn about all of your options, including shelter, legal assistance, support groups, and more. The hotline staff can help you create a safety plan personalized for your situation.

 

University of Delaware resources 

View a complete list of UD resources​.

 

Research Resources at UD

​If you want to learn more about gender-based​violence, visit the library’s resource ​guide. This guide highlights recommended databases and books for researching gender-based violence​

Local Resources

For more information, visit the Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence​. The DCADV is the statewide, nonprofit coalition of agencies and individuals working to stop domestic violence in Delaware.

24-hour hotlines

  • NEW CASTLE COUNTY: (302) 762-6110

  • KENT & SUSSEX COUNTIES: (302) 422-8058

  • ABRIENDO PUERTAS: (302) 745-9874

    • Para más información o preguntas puede enviar un correo electrónico a  ap@peoplesplace2.com

Shelters​

Shelters are in confidential locations throughout the state and look like typical family homes. There are 5 crisis shelters in Delaware that serve victims/survivors of domestic violence. Shelters provide physical safety and supportive resources. Trained staff are also on site in shelters 24/7 to support residents. Staff can help with safety planning, goal setting, and counseling/support groups. Staff can also help connect you to resources for employment, housing, legal assistance, or other services

There are two shelters in New Castle County operated by CHILD, Inc.

  • People’s Place operates three shelters across Kent and Sussex Counties.
  • Abriendo Puertas is an emergency shelter specifically for Latina women and children in Sussex County.

All services are free of charge and can be accessed by calling the DV hotline.

New Castle C​ounty resources

(Source: DCADV)

  • CHILD, Inc. Domestic Violence Treatment Program: Victim counseling and support groups, treatment services for chemically dependent women, Helping Children Heal Program (individual, group & family counseling for children who have witnessed domestic violence).Call Erin at 302-762-8989

  • Community Health Advocates: Community-based support – meets individuals wherever they feel safe and comfortable. Safety planning, connection to social services and health care, transportation, education and empowerment, general care management, and support. Bilingual services. 302-757-2137 hablamos español

  • ​Delaware Center for Justice Adults Victim Services Program: Services for crime victims who reside in New Castle County, over 50 years of age, who have experienced any type of crime including domestic violence or elder abuse. Call Gloria Smith (Director) at 302-658-7174 ext. 15

  • Family Counseling Center of St. Paul’s: The Family Counseling Center of St. Paul's (FCCSP) is a behavioral health organization serving Wilmington and the immediate surrounding community. They offer culturally competent bilingual guidance. 302-576-4136 hablamos español

  • Latin American Community Center: Victim support groups, bilingual services, support services 302-655-7338 hablamos español

  • YWCA Delaware: Victim support groups, case management, safety planning, counseling, referrals, educational outreach presentations on domestic violence, transitional housing 302-658-7110 ext. 204

  • CHILD, Inc.: Emergency shelter & transitional services, housing assistance, educational services, bilingual services, court advocacy. 302-762-6110

Advocacy in the Court System

​Help is available for victims/survivors at every step of the way.  There are victim service providers located in each level of the court system to provide information and support.

Services may include:

  • Short-term crisis counseling

  • Providing information about the criminal justice system and updates on a case

  • Safety planning

  • Emotional support

  • Going with victims to court proceedings

  • Assistance with filing for a Protection from Abuse Order (PFA) or for Victims' Compensation (VCAP)

  • Referral to other community resources

Offender Treatment

The Domestic Violence Treatment Program is a structured counseling intervention program for people who have committed abuse against their partner. While participation within the services can be either voluntary or court-mandated, many of the participants have been referred as either criminal offenders or respondents of civil Protection From Abuse (PFA) proceedings.

Treatment groups are conducted in English and Spanish.  During these groups, offenders learn about violence and abuse, take responsibility for their behavior, and learn skills to change their abusive behavior.  Group facilitators use a combination of support, encouragement, and respectful confrontation to create change.

Treatment programs must meet certain standards.  The Domestic Violence Coordinating Council certifies programs that meet the standards. 

Certified treatment programs are offered through: 

  • CHILD, Inc.: 302-762-8989
  • People's Place: 302-424-2420
  • Dover Air Force Base: 302-677-2711

 

Police-Based Victim Assistance

Many police departments across the state have advocates who work with officers to help victims/survivors.  Police-based advocates are an important connection between victims/survivors and the officers and detectives.  The advocates can answer questions about the case, find information, and make referrals to other resources in the community.  Advocates are available at any time, day or night, when requested to do so by an officer.

Delaware State Police Victims’ Center (24 hours, bilingual Spanish/English): 800-842-8461

  • In addition to serving the Delaware State Police, the Victims' Center services are also extended to over 30 other municipal departments throughout Delaware that do not have an “in house” victim service unit.

  • Dover Police Department Victim Assistance Program: 302-736-7134

  • Georgetown Police Department Victim Services (bilingual Spanish/English): 302-856-6613

  • Newark Police Department Victim Assistance Program: 302-366-7110 ext. 3137

  • New Castle County Police Victim Assistance Program: 302-395-8000

  • New Castle County Police Bilingual (Spanish/English) Advocate: 302-395-8117

  • Wilmington Police Domestic Violence Coordinator: 302-576-3648

  • Wilmington Police Victim Services Supervisor: 302-576-3622 

  • Wilmington Police Victim Services Bilingual (Spanish/English) Case Coordinator: 302-576-3665

National Resources

If you are in danger, please use a safer computer, or call a local hotline, or the U.S. National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 and TTY 1-800-787-3224, or 911 if it is safe to do so.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or is in an abusive relationship, help is available. In addition to the resources on your campus, the following organizations provide information, support, and resources to survivors of sexual and relationship violence, as well as those who want to help them.

National Organizations and Resources

General Resources

Looking for information, but you're not sure where to start?  There are several resources that may be able to help. These organizations do not provide direct services to victims, but can help point you in the direction of the services you may need.

If you need help right away, the Domestic Violence Hotlines are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

 

GENERAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INFORMATION

 

SEXUAL ASSAULT RESOURCES

  • YWCA Sexual Assault Response Center (SARC) 800-773-8570 New Castle and Sussex Counties The Sexual Assault Response Center (SARC) provides comprehensive, free and confidential rape crisis services to sexual assault survivors aged 12 and older and their non-offending family members, friends and partners throughout the State of Delaware. SARC is committed to providing healing, hope and empowerment to individuals whose lives have been impacted by sexual violence whether the assault happened yesterday or many years ago. If you or someone you care about has been sexually assaulted, reaching out for help can be the first step toward recovery and healing.

  • ContactLifeline Crisis Helpline 800-262-9800 Crisis HelpLine statewide; Rape Crisis Services for Kent County

 

RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN

 

OTHER RESOURCES FOR ADULTS

 

​Our Voices Matter

Seeking stories from victims and survivors of intimate partner violence

 

Our Voices Matter: Exposing the Secrets is a new podcast series uncovering the truths about escaping violence. In this series, victims, survivors, and family members anonymously share barriers endured and inequities experienced while trying to leave the hands of an abuser. Dawn M. Riley, CEO and p​resident of Domestic Violence Ambassadors, and creator of the podcast series, speaks up about the lack of assistance from law enforcement to court attorneys, forcing her to stay in her abusive situation. The podcast opens a community where survivors feel safe and supported. Together, no one suffers alone. ​

 

Dear Katie: Survivor Stories

 

​Dear Katie: Survivor Stories is a podcast series inviting victims and survivors of gender-based violence to tell their stories. Join Katie Koestner, Claire N. Kaplan, Kavita Ajmere and Sandra Miles as they interview survivors telling their experiences, as well as activists, experts and leaders speaking up about their work to end gender-based violence. They are especially looking for folks who can speak to the experiences of marginalized communities: indigenous people, BIPOC, immigrants/undocumented people; trafficking survivors; LGBTQ+ people. You can find a list of episodes and more information on the podcast here: www.katiek​oestner.com/podcast

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