Victim Advocacy

Next Door believes victims of domestic violence know what’s in their best interest but need help understanding their options and the risks associated with each choice. Next Door helps victims and their children learn what services they need, how to access those services in the community, and when best to seek out each service. Next Door helps victims speak on their own behalf in their own best interests and advocate for change in systems response to their needs. From hotline referrals to safety planning, Next Door does this through its several county portals, language assistance and victim advocacy, which includes:

• 24 Hour Hotline
• Walk-In Crisis Counseling
• Social Service and Systems Advocacy
• Legal Advocacy

Next Door’s 24 Hour Hotline is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and provides crisis counseling, information and referrals in English and Spanish. Last fiscal year the Hotline answered over 18,000 calls.

If you are being abused, call Next Door's hotline 

24 hours a day, seven days a week at 408-279-2962. 

For more information, click here.

Walk-In Crisis Counseling: Crisis Intervention Advocates present walk-in clients with safety plans, resources and referrals, and coordinate emergency services our clients need as well as other non-crisis Next Door and community services that address hunger, homelessness, and health needs and allow them to rebuild their lives in a sustainable way.

Social Service and Systems Advocacy: Next Door provides Advocacy Programs free-of-charge at several community agencies:

• The Family Violence Center–a collaboration with the San Jose Police Department staffed by representatives of the District Attorney’s Office, Adult Probation, Child Protective Services, the Police Department, and two bi-lingual victim advocates from Next Door.  Two co-located advocates provide confidential safety planning, referrals, and advocacy to individuals and their children.  This cooperative effort provides victims of domestic violence “one-stop shopping” for help – all the support services available to victims of domestic violence in a safe and friendly environment. The Family Violence Center is located at 1671 The Alameda, Suite 100 San Jose, CA 95126 (408) 277-3700  For more information, click here

• CalWORKs and the Los Gatos/Monte Sereno Police Department – Two embedded advocates, one at each site, provide outreach, safety planning, risk assessments, information, and referrals to Next Door and other community agencies.

 

Next Door’s Legal Advocacy provides assistance with temporary restraining orders, court accompaniment to restraining order and other domestic-violence related court hearings, immigration services, and translation assistance. Next Door provides safety and support through the following:

• The S.T.O.P. Program (Safety Through Orders of Protection) provides general information about Temporary Restraining Orders (TRO) and the TRO process for victims of domestic violence.  It provides safety planning, document preparation, court accompaniment and preparation, legal advocacy, translation assistance, and education about victim rights.

Restraining Order Hearing Flowchart in:   English Spanish Vietnamese

• The D.V.I.A.P. Program (Domestic Violence Immigration Advocacy Project) provides immigrant victims a coordinated response to their domestic violence and immigration issues, which can include safety planning, translation assistance, referrals to pro bono attorneys, assistance with U visas and Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) self-petitions for residency, and education of the system and how it works.
• Human Trafficking Program  provides immigrant victims a coordinated response to their overlapping domestic violence/human trafficking issues, which can include safety planning, translation assistance, immigration services, referrals to pro bono attorneys, assistance T visas and petitions for residency, advocacy and access to public benefits, and education of the system and how it works.

• Legal Resources and Referrals List: Click here for a comprehensive list of local legal resources for victims of domestic violence.

For more information on Next Door’s Legal Advocacy, click here.