Family Advocates is a nonprofit organization providing services for victims of sexual assault and family/partner abuse. Services include a 24-hour help line (608-348-3838 or 1-800-924-2624), counseling, advocacy, crisis intervention, support groups, emergency shelter and more. Family Advocates serves residents of Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Counties through offices in each county. All services are free and confidential. Speakers are available for community organizations.
Family/Partner Abuse Services
Family/partner abuse is the physical, emotional, and/or psychological injuring of one member of a relationship to the other. The relationship may or may not be familial in nature. It is a crime punishable by law.
Services offered:- 24-hour peer counseling, by phone or in person
- Emergency, temporary shelter
- Support groups
- Information, referral and advocacy services
- Community education
Sexual Assault Services
Sexual assault is an act (verbal and/or physical) which breaks a person's trust and/or safety and is sexual in nature. The term sexual assault includes: rape, incest, child sexual assault, date and acquaintance rape, marital rape, sexual harassment, exposure and voyeurism.
Services offered:- 24-hour help line, counseling and advocacy by phone and in person
- Peer counseling and support groups for adult victims of sexual assault and incest
- Information and referrals regarding health and/or legal issues and social service agencies
- Provides services to the University of Wisconsin-Platteville campus
- Community education to schools and organizations
Victim Advocacy
To advocate means to support another person or cause. An advocate for survivors of violent crimes assists people with legal, social, educational, employment, medical, and other services that individuals need to pursue the goal of escaping violence in their lives.
Services offered:- 24-hour help line, peer counseling and advocacy by phone or in person
- Information and referral services for employment, education, legal, medical, and other services
- Assist in completing legal forms and Crime Victim Compensation applications
- Provide understanding of the legal process
- Advocacy for court procedures
- Law enforcement in-services
- Community education
Youth Services
Children living in a home where there is abuse may be physically or sexually abused themselves, at risk of becoming abused or of becoming an abuser. In addition, when children witness family/partner abuse, they often suffer psychological consequences that may have lifelong implications.
Services offered:- Assistance with parenting skills
- Information, referral and advocacy
- Child care and youth support group during the adult support groups
- Anger control counseling
- Community education
Volunteer Services
Family Advocates utilizes volunteers in all programs to enhance and expand the work of agency staff. Volunteers provide many hours of service to clients staying in the shelter, attending support groups, or needing crisis intervention. Volunteer duties and times are flexible.
