Domestic violence or domestic abuse refers to a pattern of controlling behavior used by one partner in an intimate relationship to maintain power and control over the other. It is not a private family matter, but a pervasive and life-threatening crime that affects millions of individuals across the United States, regardless of age, economic status, race, religion, or education.

Our LGBTQ survivors often face unique challenges, such as family rejection and lack of resources specific to their needs. WCH provides LGBTQ-specific advovacy and partners with several agencies in SE Wisconsin to assist you.

Our Family Intervention Program offers a range of services to families affected by domestic and sexual violence. These services include safety planning, referrals and assistance in meeting family needs, 24-hour supportive services, support groups for non-offending caregivers, safe exchange services (child visitation), legal advocacy, education on sexual and domestic violence, assistance in filing for child support, accompaniment to court proceedings, and shelter services. This program is a collaboration between Kenosha Human Development Services, Women and Children’s Horizons, and Legal Action of Wisconsin, all of which have received state funding to provide assistance and legal representation to children and their non-offending caregivers who are victims of physical and sexual abuse or who witness or experience domestic violence.

Domestic abuse in later life is a tragedy that affects older adults of all backgrounds. It can take many forms including physical, sexual, psychological, neglect, abandonment, and financial exploitation. Abusers often use power and control to get what they want in the relationship and the victim is not seen as an equal. Older adults often experience shame, pain, economic loss, spiritual anguish, physical anguish, institutionalization, and poor quality of life. Abusers can be anyone, often someone the victim knows such as a spouse, partner, adult child, or caregiver. It’s important to know that older adults may be subjected to sexual violence as well, which is an act that violates a person’s trust and safety, and is sexual in nature. This includes date/acquaintance rape, partner rape, caregiver sexual assault/abuse, stranger rape, incest, child sexual abuse, sexual harassment, exposure, and voyeurism.

Women and Children’s Horizons (WCH) has been providing a safe haven for victims and child witnesses of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking through their emergency safety shelter since 1976. The shelter, which can accommodate up to 25-35 individuals, is open 24/7 and provides a place for victims and their children to stay for up to 30 days. Each year, the shelter supports over 300 women and children by offering 6,000 nights of shelter and 10,000 hot meals.

The court system can be a very confusing and intimidating place. Women and Children’s Horizons Legal Advocacy Program has  advocates that assist victims through the court process including restraining orders, and family court issues such as divorces, legal separations and child custody/placement issues. Advocates are not lawyers. Advocates are available for support, information regarding court processes, court accompaniment, and help filing important documents.

Sexual assault is the most under-reported violent crime.
Sexual assault is any unwanted contact or intercourse without consent
In Wisconsin, 88.9% of all sexual assaults were perpetrated by someone known to the victim, while 6.4% were committed by strangers.
The average age of a Wisconsin sexual assault victim is 15.
According to crime statistics, there was a sexual assault every 1 hour, 33 minutes, 33 seconds in 2004.
Source for Wisconsin Statistics: Wisconsin Office of Justice Assistance Report on Sexual Assaults in Wisconsin 2004: December 2005

Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery, in which vulnerable individuals, including women, men, and children, are exploited for labor or sex through force, fraud, deception, or coercion. It is a rapidly growing criminal enterprise worldwide, and in Wisconsin, there is a rise in young people under 18 being exposed to sex trafficking. The average age of a human trafficking victim in Wisconsin is 13 years old.