UNAVSA Community Safety Resources
July 2021
Content Warning: policing, murder, death, survivorhood, harm, sexual violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, domestic violence, rape, abuse, prison
View this in document form: Link
Some Canada-based and United States-based resources listed below or in linked content may advise survivors, allies, those who have done harm, and others to report to police or call 911. Before calling 911, we advise that community members research local, provincial, and state laws that legally require individuals (counselors, teachers, hotline representatives, crisis workers, etc) to report to police (mandated reporting) or that mandate police to accompany those experiencing mental health crises. There is a history of US police responding to 911 calls of mental health crises, resulting with the murder and death of those experiencing the crisis¹. A checklist for assessing mental health response models can be found here.
Survivors and communities may not want to report individuals to the law or consult with a resource that has mandated reporting (e.g. one crisis hotline may require counselors to report to police) for a variety of reasons: they don’t want the person who harmed to go to jail, prison, through court proceedings, legal system, be criminalized, deported, etc. Folks are also aware that those institutions cause further harm through isolation, incapacitation, inadequate healing processes, and lack of accountability processes.
UNAVSA advocates for community-based responses² to harm that does not cause further harm. We work to support immediate needs to those affected by harm, work to shift conditions that allow harm to happen, and support strategies that will help us to prevent and eventually to end harm.
Below are resources for four different groups: survivors, supporters of survivors, those who cause harm (harm-doers), and their supporters.
This is an evolving document. Suggestions for resources can be sent to eboard@unavsa.org
Table of Contents
Resources for Survivors and Supporters of Survivors
API CHAYA
- 1-877-922-4292
- “Our services are free, confidential, and culturally relevant. We help survivors explore their options in a supportive environment.”
- Local and National Resources
API Chaya is a 501(c)(3) organization that seeks to end systemic violence in our communities.
Asian/Pacific Islander Domestic Violence Resource Project (DVRP)
- Based in Washington, DC, US.
- Serves survivors of domestic violence in DC, Maryland, and Virginia
- Survivor Services Program – A/PI DVRP | Ending Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
- A/PI DVRP has provided trainings to organization members since March 2021
A/PI (DVRP) was founded by survivors and is survivor-led and driven. Mission: “to address, prevent and end domestic violence and sexual assault in Asian/Pacific Islander communities while empowering survivors to rebuild their lives after abuse.”
Asian Women’s Shelter (AWS)
- Based in San Francisco, CA, US
- Programs — Asian Women’s Shelter
- AWS has a 24-hour, confidential, toll-free crisis line: 1-877-751-0880
Trained crisis line workers respond to calls and connect callers with language advocates when needed. Callers can get over-the-phone support, safety planning, access to AWS services, and information and referrals.
Bay Area Women Against Rape: BAWAR
- Based in Oakland, CA, US
- Confidential and free 24-Hour Hotline in English and Spanish: (510) 845-7273
Founded in 1971, BAWAR was the first rape crisis center in the country. It was founded with the two-part goal of establishing a place where survivors of sexual violence could receive the quality counseling and advocacy they need, and to provide community education around these issues. “Although our name is Bay Area Women Against Rape, we serve anyone affected by sexual violence. BAWAR defines sexual violence by the narratives of the survivors who experienced the violence. We are here to believe and validate the community we serve in a trauma-informed, culturally appropriate and accessible way.”
Creative Interventions Toolkit
- Warning: 576 pages, however you can download the toolkit as one document or by sections
- Spanish Translation
Creative Interventions offers facilitation tools for survivors, harm-doers, supporters, and facilitators to interrupt harm and violence. UNAVSA’s Community Safety policies and resources are inspired by the work in this toolkit and others.
Get Help | The National Domestic Violence Hotline (thehotline.org)
- Hotline assists US-based survivors and people who have committed harm
- Domestic Violence Local Resources for Survivors | The Hotline
24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, the National Domestic Violence Hotline provides essential tools and support to help survivors of domestic violence so they can live their lives free of abuse. Contacts to The Hotline can expect highly-trained, expert advocates to offer free, confidential, and compassionate support, crisis intervention information, education, and referral services in over 200 languages.
Peer Crisis Line — Project LETS
- Based in Providence, Rhode Island, US
Peer Crisis Line: “All Peer Crisis Line volunteers are extensively trained through QPR Suicide Prevention Training Guidelines and Project LETS Crisis Training. In addition, during your chat, all Agents have access to an infinite amount of resources from the LETS library, including: self-harm alternatives and distractions, coping with flashbacks and PTSD, cycles of depression, medical complications associated with eating disorders, fading and covering scars, managing stress, meditation etc.“
SUPPORTING A SURVIVOR OF SEXUAL ASSAULT (Zine by UBUNTU and MARC)
The Trevor Project
The Trevor Project is the “leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people under 25.”
- Get Help Now – The Trevor Project
- If you are thinking about suicide and in need of immediate support, call the TrevorLifeline at 1-866-488-7386 or select TrevorChat on the above link to connect with a counselor.
Support for Survivors — The NW Network
Northwest Network: “Founded in 1987 by lesbian survivors of battering, the NW Network works to end abuse in our diverse lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans communities. As an organization founded by and for LGBT survivors, we’re deeply committed to fostering the empowerment of all survivors of abuse.” Services are free and confidential.
Non-Police Crisis Response Guide — Interrupting Criminalization [Published May 2021]
Defund the Police – Invest in Community Care|A Guide to Alternative Mental Health Crisis Responses
“…a pragmatic tool for individuals and communities organizing and advocating for non-police mental health crisis responses, and to offer key considerations for what can be a complex, costly, and long-term intervention strategy. This guide highlights considerations for real, meaningful shifts away from law enforcement and towards autonomous, self-determined community-based resources and responses to unmet mental health needs.”
W.O.M.A.N. Inc
- Based in San Francisco, California, US
Since 1978, W.O.M.A.N., Inc. has offered survivors of domestic violence comprehensive services, tailored to meet their individual needs. In reading our history, you will see a lot has changed over our agency’s 35 years. W.O.M.A.N., Inc. has experienced programming and funding shifts, changes in leadership, and exponential growth.
- 24 Hour Support Line: The W.O.M.A.N., Inc. 24-hour support line offers support via peer counseling, safety planning, and referrals for needed resources.
- Get Free & Confidential Domestic Violence Support
- http://www.womaninc.org/resources/
- https://linktr.ee/womaninc
- Fundamentals to Supporting Survivors
- A Call to Strategize for Survivor-Centered Solutions: Stop Defaulting to Law Enforcement as a Response to Intimate Violence
- Navigating with Integrity (Intro): Adapting to Crisis & Confronting White Supremacy Culture – The W.O.M.A.N., Inc. Podcast
- 35:33 survivors need so much more than what nonprofits can provide
- W.O.M.A.N. Inc Safety Planning
Technology Safety
https://www.techsafety.org/resources-survivors
Safety tips, information, and privacy strategies for survivors on the use of technology
Resources for Harm-Doers and their Supporters
“One of the first things that needs to be there in order for folks who’ve hurt or abused somebody to actually admit that they did it and work towards resolving the harm is we have to make it more worth it to admit what they did than it is to lie and deny about it.”
– Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha
Accountability
- The Four Parts of Accountability: How To Give A Genuine Apology Part 1
- How To Give A Genuine Apology Part 2: The Apology – The What and The How
- How to Support Harm Doers in Being Accountable [Video]
- 9 Ways to Be Accountable When You’ve Been Abusive [Short Article]
Help for Abusive Partners – The Hotline
- Many of the factors behind abusive behaviors are learned attitudes and feelings of entitlement, which can be difficult to unlearn. Everyone deserves a healthy relationship free from abuse, including someone that may have abusive behaviors.
- All contacts made to The Hotline are always free, confidential, and free of judgement. 24/7 available phone and online browser chat: https://www.thehotline.org/get-help/
- Based in the United States: The National Domestic Violence Hotlines are considered by law to be mandatory reporters of suspected abuse or neglect of minors, elders, or vulnerable adults. As long as someone chatting with them doesn’t tell them identifying information (such as full names, locations, and full addresses), the conversation can remain confidential.
Courdea (formerly Menergy)
- Based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
- TREATMENT FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE ACTED HARMFULLY – Courdea (formerly Menergy)
Philadelphia-based intervention, treatment, training and education program working to stop harmful behavior and intimate partner violence.
6 Ways to Confront Your Friend Who’s Abusing Their Partner
How to Confront an Abusive Friend
Taking The First Step: Suggestions To People Called Out For Abusive Behavior | Transform Harm
Ten Suggestions For People Called Out For Abusive Behaviour
so your friend has been accused of abuse: what not to do! a thread
Long Term Planning
The following are organizations, resources, reading/study materials, and educators who can assist with long term planning in case you or your community seek to end harm.
If you or someone you know has fantasies or ideations of committing harm, we suggest looking to local therapists and counseling services.
Spring Up
“Spring Up is a multimedia artivist collective and social enterprise building an alternative vision of our world rooted in ongoing consent, liberation, community accountability and care. We prevent and respond to gender based violence with consent education and transformative justice. We primarily serve youth and young adults (18-35) directly impacted by violence (eg. QTPOC, survivors of sexual violence, perpetuators of harm) to equip them with tools to heal from trauma and practice healthy relationships.”
INCITE! Women of Color Against Violence: www.incite-national.org
Community accountability is a community-based strategy, rather than a police/prison-based strategy, to address violence within our communities. Community accountability is a process in which a community – a group of friends, a family, a church, a workplace, an apartment complex, a neighborhood, etc
“This report is generated from a two-day meeting held in Seattle February 7 – 8, 2004 by an ad-hoc INCITE! Community Accountability in Organizations Working Group. This group specifically gathered to address gender oppression including patriarchical political and work environments, sexual harassment, domestic violence, and sexual assault committed against women/girls/women-identified persons of color within progressive, radical and revolutionary people of color organizations and movement.”
“Published March 5, 2003 NOTE: These ideas have been generated from various communities involved with INCITE!’s Activist Institutes and workshops… The purpose of this document is to provide ideas and to spark the development of additional strategies that may help promote community accountability on the issue of violence against women of color.”
Why People Abuse – The Hotline
“Abuse is a learned behavior. Some people witness it in their own families growing up; others learn it slowly from friends, popular culture, or structural inequities throughout our society. No matter where they develop such behaviors, those who commit abusive acts make a choice in doing so — they also could choose not to.”
Create a Safety Plan – The Hotline thehotline.org
WHAT IS A SAFETY PLAN? A safety plan is a set of actions that can help lower your risk of being hurt by your partner. It includes information specific to you and your life that will increase your safety at school, home, and other places that you go on a daily basis.
PIC abolition reading list
“ *This reading list was created by and is managed by Know Your IX, a survivor-and youth-led campaign committed to ending gender violence in school. If you have additional readings or resources you think should be added to this list, please email us at info@knowyourix.org. This list is made up of resources and readings we, as survivors, have found helpful when envisioning and working towards a world without the prison industrial complex.*
Share: bit.ly/abolitionreadinglist “
Engaging men in sexual assault prevention [Link]
Bay Area Transformative Justice Collective
- https://batjc.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/tj-ca-one-pager.pdf
- Transformative Justice and Community Accountability: “TJ/CA provides opportunities for liberatory responses to violence that actively cultivate healing, safety, accountability, connection, transformation and shared humanity and dignity.”
- Readings & Media – Bay Area Transformative Justice Collective
- Safety Planning: Pods and Pod Mapping Worksheet – BATJC
- Your pod is made up of the people that you would call on if violence, harm or abuse happened to you; or the people that you would call on if you wanted support in taking accountability for violence, harm or abuse that you’ve done; or if you witnessed violence or if someone you care about was being violent or being abused.
- Pod Mapping Worksheet
NYC TJHub
- Based in New York, New York, US
- https://nyctjhub.com/resources.html
THE NYC TRANSFORMATIVE JUSTICE HUB SERVES THREE PRIMARY PURPOSES: Provide political education for anyone interested in transformative justice and community accountability. Provide a space for people actively engaged in the work to process, and get consultations and support. Provide more connectivity and visibility across groups doing TJ and CA work.
Addressing Harm, Accountability and Healing – Critical Resistance
Resources on Interpersonal Harm, Community Accountability, Trauma and Healing
Resources for Organizing | Community Accountability
Collectives, community organizations, and activists have crafted toolkits, brainstorms, testimonials, and how-to’s, creating an archive of resources for community-based responses to violence.
Shifting the Narrative of Pan-Asian Survivors of Violence
Aims to unpack the historical roots or white supremacy, the hyper sexuality of pan-Asian women, and the intersections of colonization and sexual violence.
Panelists: Prisha Sujin, Student Activist of Boston University, Jayda Shuavarnnasri, Sex Positive Asian Auntie, Dr. Varuna Srinivasan, MBBS MPH Moderated by: Sydney Rae Chin, Edu Guide
https://www.facebook.com/581591051892840/videos/495066328291297
Speaking Engagements
Below are a list of educators, facilitators, and guides who can provide organizational consultation or can be speakers using survivor-centered and trauma-informed frameworks. Some may also utilize non-carceral frameworks such as restorative justice and transformative justice.
Jayda, Sex Positive Asian Auntie (she/they)
Jayda is a queer Thai-American Sexual Wellness Educator committed to creating spaces for People of color to feel empowered in their exploration of sexuality and relationships.
Sydney Rae Chin (she/her/hers)
https://www.sydneyraechin.com/
Contact: sydneyraechin@gmail.com
Hours: M – F 10am – 5pm EST
Sydney Rae Chin is a survivor edu-guide and consultant empowering non-men of color survivors of sexual and intimate partner violence through private coaching, workshops, and consulting on best practices towards survivor justice in the workplace.
Dr. Varuna Srinivasan, MBBS MPH (She/They)
https://www.varunasrinivasan.com/
Contact: srinivasanvaruna@gmail.com
Varuna is an immigrant, South Asian woman. She is a public health researcher, writer and activist with over 5 years of experience. Varuna holds a degree in medicine from India and a public health degree from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Her past experiences include working for Doctors without Borders, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, & Johns Hopkins University on projects funded by USAID and World Vision. Varuna writes on the intersection between gender, sexual health, mental health and racial justice.
Sources
¹ US-based National Domestic Violence Hotline recommends folks identify non-law enforcement emergency service providers to minimize interactions with criminal legal systems.
² https://incite-national.org/community-accountability/
³ What are Obstacles to Accountability? At 8:35, Leah discusses survivors’ needs, models of accountability and repair that people who cause harm can enter in order to be honest and truthful.