You don't have to navigate complicated systems alone.
When domestic violence affects your life, you may find yourself working with systems that can feel confusing, overwhelming, or unfamiliar. You may have questions about what will happen next, who you should talk to, what your options are, or how to make sure your voice is heard.
Next Step advocates can help.
Our advocates work alongside survivors and with the professionals involved in their lives to help make these systems easier to navigate. Our goal is to help you understand your options, feel supported, and have your voice and needs recognized throughout the process.
Child Protective Services
Is Child Protective Services (CPS) involved in your situation?
Our CPS Liaison can help understand the CPS process, communicate with CPS, prepare for meetings, and navigate concerns related to your children and family. The liaison can help build communication between survivors and CPS while keeping the survivor's needs and safety at the center.
Our CPS Liaison does not work for CPS. They work for Next Step and are here to support you.
Criminal Justice System
Do you need support working with law enforcement, the courts, or the jail?
Our Criminal Justice Advocate can support survivors who are navigating the criminal justice system. This can include working with law enforcement, accompanying survivors to court, helping survivors understand what to expect, communicating with professionals involved in their case, and helping survivors understand their options.
You don't have to face the criminal justice system alone.
Healthcare
Support when you're receiving care from healthcare providers.
Our Healthcare Advocate works with survivors navigating healthcare systems and can help survivors communicate their needs, understand their options, and navigate interactions with healthcare providers.
This could include support when accessing medical care, discussing the impact of domestic violence with a provider, or navigating healthcare concerns related to safety and abuse.
What Can an Advocate Help Me With?
Depending on your situation, an advocate may be able to:
Help you understand how a system works and what to expect
Explain your options and help you think through next steps
Help you prepare for meetings, appointments, or court
Accompany you to court or other meetings when available
Help you communicate with professionals
Help you identify questions you want to ask
Help you understand information you've received
Connect you with other resources and services
Advocate for your needs and concerns
Help improve communication between you and the professionals involved in your situation
Support you if you feel overwhelmed, unheard, or unsure of what to do next
Help you identify safety concerns and plan for them
Continue providing support as you move through the process
The specific support available depends on your situation and the system you're working with. An advocate can talk with you about what support may be available.
You may also be able to receive support from other Next Step programs.
Advocates can help connect you with additional services, including our 24/7 helpline, legal services, shelter and housing support, youth services, and other advocacy programs.
For Our Community Partners
Stronger support for survivors strengthens the whole system.
Our advocates work alongside survivors while also collaborating with the professionals and systems involved in their lives. By helping survivors understand their options, address safety concerns, connect with resources, and feel supported throughout the process, advocates can help create stronger and more productive partnerships between survivors and the systems they are navigating.
When a survivor has an advocate beside them, system partners may have a more informed, supported, and prepared person to work with while the survivor has someone helping them understand what is happening, identify their needs, and make decisions about their safety.
Our advocates are here to support both effective systems responses and survivor-centered outcomes.