If you’re currently experiencing or have recently experienced fear in a personal relationship, there are a few ways to reach out and participate in the services listed below.

  • To access peer one-on-one advocacy, support groups, or legal advocacy, please call our main office at (831) 426-3062 to make an appointment with an advocate. You will need to provide a safe method of contact so that an advocate may reach out to you within 48 hours of your initial call.

  • For immediate emotional support, safety-planning, information about domestic violence, local resources, or to inquire about emergency accommodations for survivors, please contact our 24-hour hotline at 1 (866) 2MY-ALLY.

  • Walk-in services with a domestic violence advocate are available on a first-come, first-serve basis from 10am-1pm, Monday-Friday. Please be prepared to wear a face mask while indoors.

All of our domestic violence services are free and voluntary. People of all genders, sexual relationships, and family/relationship models (including kinky, polyamorous, or queerplatonic) are welcome! Teens do not need parental/guardian permission to use these services with us.

Domestic Violence Advocacy

The Services for Survivors of Domestic Violence program is part of our Advocacy & Prevention Department which also includes our Services for Children & Youth program, Family Support Services and Housing & Employment programs.

The mission of the Services for Survivors of Domestic Violence Department is to break the cycle of violence through safety, healing, individual empowerment and social change.  We believe that peace begins at home.

Walnut Avenue Family & Women’s Center (Walnut Avenue) staff and volunteer advocates are available to support survivors of domestic violence (DV) through crisis intervention, peer counseling, safety planning, and goal setting. Our advocates are certified domestic violence peer counselors and are trained to respond to individual needs. We offer a confidential and safe space for survivors to talk about the challenges and barriers that impact their lives and to explore options.

We provide all of our support services in English and Spanish, and at no cost.

Other languages are available through the call-in services of Language Line.

If you would like more information on any of our services, please call our office at (831) 426-3062 anytime Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm.

Are you a service provider? You can find information on how to refer your clients or patients here.

24-Hour Bilingual Domestic Violence Crisis Hotline:
1-866-2MY-ALLY | 1-866-269-2559

Our 24/7 hotline offers crisis intervention, emotional support, resources, referrals, and safety-planning for survivors and their allies.

One-on-One Peer Advocacy

Trained domestic violence advocates offer a non-judgmental environment for participants to talk about their experiences and weigh their options.  Participants are supported to understand the dynamics of abuse and its impact on their lives, nurture self-esteem, set healthy boundaries, develop safe coping skills, assess risks, and create a safety plan to address their emotional, mental, spiritual and/or physical safety. Information, resources, and referrals to other agencies are available as needed. 

To meet with an advocate in person, you can come in during our walk-in hours (conducted on a first-come, first-serve basis) or make an appointment. To hear our current walk-in hours or for more information, call our front desk at (831) 426-3062.

Legal Advocacy

Our advocates assist with the preparation of family law restraining order paperwork, and also provide court accompaniment to restraining order hearings and custody mediation at no cost to our participants. Advocates may also act as liaisons between participants and members of the criminal legal system. Advocates cannot provide legal advice or representation, but they will provide emotional support and information on accessing local legal resources.

Learn more about legal advocacy, the restraining order process in Santa Cruz County, and legal resources by visiting the Legal Advocacy page.

Accessibility

  • Walnut Avenue’s main office and Early Education Center (EEC) campus are both ADA-compliant, including wheelchair ramps. The main office has an elevator accessing its second story, where support groups and trainings are hosted.

  • All three of our main office’s restrooms are gender-neutral. One restroom has a baby-changing station and can also accommodate all mobility aids.

  • If you are accompanied by a medical/therapeutic animal, please let our front desk know before entering the building so that we can accommodate staff persons with animal allergies.

  • Support persons (friends, family, social workers, etc) are welcome as long as the survivor they are supporting consents to their presence.

If you require a support that is not already provided, such as large-print materials or translation services for languages other than English or Spanish, please let us know by contacting so we can make sure to meet those needs!

Support Groups

We offer several support groups for survivors of domestic violence to the community. Our support groups provide a safe, confidential environment for survivors of all genders to meet others who have faced similar experiences and gain knowledge and tools for empowerment. These groups are open, offer childcare for their attendees, and are free of charge.

For more information on attending a support group and to access the link for virtual groups, please call our main office at (831) 426-3062.

You can also review the guidelines for our support groups here.

Thursday Family Support Night

Multiple groups happen on Thursday night!

  • Domestic violence survivor support groups (English and Spanish)

  • Kids Club (childcare for support group attendees)

Thursday night support group/teen group schedule:

  • 5-5:30pm - food and social time

  • 5:30-6:30pm - support groups

  • 6:30-7pm - food bag distribution and clean-up

Door is locked by 5:45pm to avoid interrupting the support groups. Please arrive on time. More details about support group guidelines are here.

LGBTQ+ Survivor Support Group (English)

Every 2nd and 4th Tuesday from 6-7pm PT (beginning October 2023)
Online via Zoom

This support group is a collaborative service with the Diversity Center of Santa Cruz County. To access this group, you may register by visiting the Diversity Center’s community calendar of events or through this direct link to the registration form.

Emergency Short-Term Accommodation

Walnut Avenue offers short-term, off-site accommodations on a qualifying basis for survivors needing an emergency solution while seeking a safe living environment.

Housing & Employment Program

Some survivors are unable to leave an abusive situation because of lack of resources. With a referral from one of our domestic violence advocates, this program supports survivors in developing their financial and resource independence through case management around applying for social service programs, finding employment, and building up their work and credit histories.

Space for Change: A Non-Legal, Alternative Justice Program

Space for Change is a program based on principles of restorative and transformative justice which serves people who have caused harm, as well as survivors who wish to participate in an accountability process with the person who harmed them. More information is available here.

Family Support Services

Family Support Services is part of our Advocacy & Prevention Department, which also includes our Services for Children & Youth, Services for Survivors of Domestic Violence and Housing & Employment program.

The mission of Family Support Services is to ensure that everyone who enters our doors feels welcomed, respected, and cared for. This program provides support to participants of our Early Education Center, Services for Children & Youth program, and Services for Survivors of Domestic Violence program (including the Housing & Employment program) by managing our front desk and the food program.

When individuals have no shelter, food, or clothing, they can not focus on more complex goals of healing. Walnut Avenue addresses the basic needs first with supplemental food, clothing, and household support.

Family Support Services’ Food Program

Once a week, survivors and families participating in any of our other programs are invited to pick up a bag of pantry essentials plus any of the fresh produce and other supplies which have been donated to Walnut Avenue that week from local businesses and farms. Volunteers help put the supplies together and can assist folks in carrying bags out to their car if desired.

If you or your family would like this support, please contact our main office at (831) 426-3062 for more information.

If you or your family are experiencing food insecurity, you can also find more information on other local food programs by contacting United Way at 211.

Funding for the Services for Survivors of Domestic Violence program provided by:

  • CalOES

  • PinPoint Foundation

  • County of Santa Cruz

  • City of Santa Cruz

  • HUD

It is the policy of Walnut Avenue Family & Women’s Center to provide equal employment, volunteer opportunities and services (EEO) to all persons regardless of race, color, religion, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices),national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, marital status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, age (40 years and over), sexual orientation, veteran and/or military status, protected medical leaves (requesting or approved for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act or the California Family Rights Act), domestic violence victim status, political affiliation, and any other status protected by federal, state or local law.