There are a myriad of risk factors leading to Domestic Violence and Intimate Partner Violence, and substance misuse is often observed as a common complicating factor. Their co-existence expresses itself in a variety of ways, from being an element leading to violent incidents to maladaptive coping and navigating the impact of trauma. The use, misuse, and addiction of substances or unhealthy behaviors or habits are all...
With the sun shining through her window, Amy awoke early in the morning. Unfortunately, she did not have a peaceful sleep in her car. Due to fleeing her home in a hurry, she lacked many of the necessities needed to have a good night's rest....
Rebecca Jasmine is a volunteer who has kindly donated her time and talent as a writer to share her thoughts and experiences with WTLC. She wrote this article to help our community understand how we can all do our part by supporting the survivors in...
When Leslie was granted supervised visits at her custody hearing, she was excited to see her son again, but was also confused and overwhelmed. Wanting to make sure that she was following the judge’s orders correctly, Leslie reached out to WTLC’s helpline to schedule an...
Not long ago, Emily contacted the WTLC Helpline in a state of crisis after realizing that she had reached the point in her marriage where it was time to leave. Her oldest child had started mimicking Emily’s spouse’s behavior, using the same abusive and insulting...
Dear Friends of WTLC, The month of May marked Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, a time when we celebrate and acknowledge the contributions of AAPIs to the fabric of our community. However, this year's commemoration comes at a time when we are witnessing...
While many of us know that law enforcement aims to keep our cities safe, some may be surprised to learn that the success of these efforts often depends on communities helping by reporting crimes and cooperating in investigations. Unfortunately, according to the article “Fewer Immigrants...
It was midnight when Dina and her two children fled their home in Santa Barbara and began making their way to WTLC’s emergency shelter. After the stay-at-home order was announced in response to COVID-19 last year, Dina became more and more afraid for her family’s safety...
In 2010, the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) reported that members of the LGBTQ+ community experience domestic violence at equal or higher rates to straight, cisgender individuals. Yet the percentage of LGBTQ survivors who report their abuse or seek supportive services is...
Dear Friends of WTLC, Doing the work we do, we have to believe in change. We believe that we can change the world and create a society of nonviolence. We believe that survivors can change their situations and live their lives free from abuse. And we believe that people...
