Quick Exit

If you are in immediate danger, CALL 911.


What to Expect

WHAT TO EXPECT

It is not always easy to reach out for help. The decision can be even more difficult when you are unsure of what to expect or you are worried about what to share and how much to share. We want you to know that you can share as much or as little as you feel comfortable with. Our services are completely anonymous and you do not need to share any personally identifying information. For individuals seeking local services, we may ask for your general location to provide the best possible referrals, but you will never be asked for your physical address.

STAGE 1:

At the beginning of your call, text, or chat to the DC Victim Hotline, a Victim Assistance Specialist will:

  1. Confirm your safety
  2. Review our privacy and confidentiality policy
  3. Inform you of how to reach back out to us if you are disconnected from one of our platforms for any reason
Safety

We can only talk, text, or chat with you if you are currently physically safe. If you communicate, or a Victim Assistance Specialist believes, that you are not physically safe at the time of your call, we can talk with you about how to get to a safe space. We may also recommend that you immediately hang up and call 911, or provide alternative options that best meet your needs.

If you are safe, we will proceed with the call, text, or chat. If at any point during the call, text, or chat session it is no longer safe for you to continue, please feel empowered to disconnect. We will not contact you. You can return to our helpline when it is safe to do so again.

If you suspect that your computer, mobile device, web browser, or internet usage is being monitored, please click here to learn more about online and technology safety.

Privacy and Confidentiality

You do not have to share any personal details with us unless you want to. We do not track or store any identifying information in our records, like names or phone numbers. Anything you share will remain confidential unless you disclose abuse or neglect of a child, elder, or vulnerable adult, or the intent to harm yourself or others.

We may ask you for more information about your age or location to help us find services that will best address your needs. You can always choose not to answer these questions.

To read our privacy policy and learn more about how we protect your security, please click here.

Technical Issues

If you are disconnected from your call, text, or chat with us due to any technical difficulties, please try contacting us again via your preferred method.

STAGE 2:

The next part of the call, text, or chat session is a conversation during which we will listen to your needs and then do our best to refer and connect you to resources and services appropriate for your situation. We will also help you brainstorm solutions to your problems, help you weigh the pros, cons, and risks of your potential options, and discuss the possible outcomes. Our goal is to provide you with the emotional support and information you need to make the best decisions about your next steps.

While emotional support, information, and referrals are three distinct steps that happen in most interactions, they are not linear and do not happen in isolation of one another.

If you would like to learn more about the services we provide, please review Our services.

STAGE 3:

At the end of your call, chat, or text, the Victim Assistance Specialist will:

  1. Summarize your conversation and review any action steps you have decided to take
  2. Ensure that you have the correct contact information for any resources or referrals provided
  3. Offer you a warm-transfer to one of the referrals provided
Feedback

If you do not need a warm-transfer, we may ask you to complete a 5-question survey to help us improve our services. This survey is anonymous and optional. However, we appreciate your feedback.

DC VICTIM HOTLINE. FREE. CONFIDENTIAL. AVAILABLE 24/7.