Advocacy Services

Counseling Advocacy

Alice Paul House counselors use a non-therapeutic approach that involves active listening, empathy, and acknowledgment of the victim/survivor’s reality as they are experiencing it. This response to a victim/survivor builds on the premise that each victim/survivor has the ability and opportunity to make informed decisions about what their course of action should be. This means that intervention starts from each individual’s unique perspective; values each individual’s thoughts, feelings, and opinions; recognizes each individual as the chief decision maker, the one who knows best, and the one with the power; and integrates the counselor’s knowledge and resources into each individual’s framework. (PCADV,2015)

Individual Empowerment Counseling
Counselor Advocates provide interventions that are action focused, client-centered, and trauma informed. This interaction occurs one-on-one between a trained advocate and victims/survivors, or their significant others. This interaction is available to both adult and child victims/survivors, and focuses on understanding the complexities and effects of victimization. They also assist with exploring options and ways to implement strategies to overcome obstacles. 

Group Empowerment Counseling
Counselor Advocates provide interventions that are action focused, client-centered, and trauma informed. This interaction occurs between a trained advocate and two or more victims/survivors and/or significant others in an informal, confidential setting. The group encourages participants to build rapport and mutual respect. This gives them the opportunity to reduce isolation and become empowered.

Education Advocacy

Prevention Education
Education Advocates provide strategies to prevent victimization by focusing on conditions that reduce violence. Primary prevention refers to behavior change. Therefore, strategies move beyond knowledge and awareness to include opportunities for audiences to learn, practice, and adopt skills and behavior changes that create environments and cultures free from violence.

Education/Community Awareness
Education Advocates offer one time, educational/community awareness programs designed to raise an understanding of violence and victimization in our community. These programs can occur in either an academic, professional, or community setting.

Crisis Intervention Volunteer Training
Education Advocates provide an 80-hour crisis intervention training that is action focused, client-centered and trauma informed. This provides individuals with para-professional counseling skills to support victims/survivors when they are faced with crisis situations.

Shelter Advocacy - 24 Hour Services

Crisis Hotline
Provides around the clock support and guidance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year to include weekends and holidays. Victims/survivors will receive support from a trained crisis intervention advocate or volunteer who is certified through our crisis intervention training.

Safety Planning
Serves as a primary intervention tool when working with victims/survivors, their children, and significant others. This includes steps and options for increasing the safety of victims/survivors and preparing in advance for the possibility of future victimization.

On-Call Advocacy
Offers victims/survivors with a skilled advocate at any hour to respond to legal, medical, and various community facilities. An advocate provides information and intervention services to victims/survivors and their significant others.

Emergency Shelter
Offers specialized, short-term emergency shelter and victimization support services for victims/survivors and members of their families when in need of safety. Services available to adult victims and their children, 18 years of age and under.

Victim Advocacy

Legal Advocacy
Victim Advocates provide in-person, non-judgmental support in a legal setting. The advocates are responsible for providing the necessary information to the victims/survivors about the legal system when making critical decisions. They also ensure that the victims'/survivors' rights are upheld throughout the process and provide explanation of the legal ramifications. 

Protection from Abuse Orders (PFA)
The PFA order is granted from the court to provide protective "relief" to adult victims and/or children for up to three years. Victim Advocates provide support to the victims/survivors while filing the PFA. They also ensure that the victims'/survivors' rights are upheld throughout the process and provide explanation of the legal ramifications. 

Sexual Violence Protection Order (SVPO)/Protection from Intimidation (PFI) Order
SVPO's are granted from the court to provide protective "relief" to adult victims/survivors and/or children for up to three years. The PFI is granted from the court to provide "relief" to minor victims/survivors with defendants 18 years of age or older, for up to three years. Victim Advocates support the victims/survivors while filing these orders. They also ensure that the victims'/survivors' rights are upheld throughout and provide explanation of the legal ramifications. 

Medical Advocacy
Victim Advocates provide in-person, non-judgmental support in a medical setting. They are responsible for providing necessary information and explanation to the victims/survivors about the medical system when making critical decisions. They also ensure that the victims'/survivors' rights are upheld throughout the process.

Victim Compensation Assistance Program
Victim Advocates support victims/survivors and their eligible family members by providing information and assistance to ease the financial burdens they may face as a result of a crime.

Help is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Contact us for information and assistance.