Safety
Safety and sanctuary are at the heart of what we do through domestic violence services for those escaping violence. YWCA Utah offers adults and children, safety, support, and meaningful opportunities to build violence-free lives.
YWCA Utah is dedicated to empowering women by helping to create a kind, affirming, nonviolent community that welcomes women of every age, race, ethnicity, religion, nationality, background, and circumstance; offers them safety, encouragement, support, and opportunity; and helps strengthen them into wellness in every aspect of their lives.
Domestic violence is defined as a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner. Domestic violence can be physical, sexual, emotional, financial, or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person. This includes any behaviors that intimidate, manipulate, humiliate, isolate, frighten, terrorize, coerce, threaten, blame, hurt, injure, or wound someone.
Red Flags and Warning Signs of an Abusive Partner
- Extreme jealousy
- Possessiveness
- Unpredictability
- A bad temper
- Cruelty to animals or children
- Verbal abuse
- Extremely controlling behavior
- Old-fashioned beliefs about the roles of women and men in relationships
- Forced sex or disregard of partner’s unwillingness to have sex
- Sabotage of birth control methods or refusal to honor agreed upon methods
- Blaming partner for anything bad that happens
- Sabotage or obstruction of partner’s ability to work or attend school
- Controls all finances
- Accusations of partner flirting or having an affair
- Control of what partner wears and how they act
- Embarrassing or humiliating partner privately or publicly
IF YOU BELIEVE YOU ARE IN AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP, THERE IS FREE, CONFIDENTIAL HELP AT YWCA UTAH.
YWCA 24 Hour Crisis Line 801-537-8600 or Toll-Free 855-992-2752
Monday – Thursday 9 AM – 4 PM walk-in to the Salt Lake Area Family Justice Center *appointments needed at this time* call 801-236-3370 to schedule
Center for Families at YWCA Utah
310 East 300 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84111
Further Resources
StrongHearts Native Helpline 1-844-7NATIVE (762-8483) is a 24/7 safe, confidential and anonymous domestic, dating and sexual violence helpline for Native Americans and Alaska Natives, offering culturally-appropriate support and advocacy. More at https://strongheartshelpline.org
Our Services
Salt Lake Area Family Justice Center at the YWCA
Free, confidential walk-in services (appointments needed at this time) for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, elder abuse, and stalking. We offer crisis intervention, protective orders, victim’s legal assistance, safety planning, sexual assault nurse exams, short-term counseling, housing support, refugee advocacy services, immigration assistance, economic empowerment, case management, and more.
Due to short staffing issues, walk in services are limited. We apologize for the inconvenience, please call and make an appointment at 801-236-3370, Monday-Thursday 9-4 at 310 East 300 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84111.
Women in Jeopardy Crisis Shelter
A safe, confidential, 181-bed licensed shelter with private family or double rooms, providing supportive services including meals, case management, support groups, and access to community resources. Services offered to women with or without dependent children.
24 Hour Crisis Line 801-537-8600 or Toll-Free 855-992-2752
Children’s Advocacy and Intervention
Services for children in residence who have been exposed to family violence. Our services strengthen the safety, health, and well-being of child victims of family violence through advocacy, educational support, after-school programming, teen programs, summer day camp, and therapeutic activities.
Emma’s Playhouse Drop-in Child Care Center
Free, on-site, short-term childcare for mothers living at the YWCA with small children; available for mothers who must attend appointments, accomplish essential tasks, or who need a brief respite in order to focus on caring for themselves during intensely challenging times.
Meditation Room
YWCA Utah honors your spiritual care to heal from intimate partner violence (IPV). Use our onsite meditation room when accessing our services. YWCA gently and consistently offers a simple and profound message: “You are a loved person and you matter.”
If you suspect child abuse or neglect is occurring, please call the Utah Division of Child and Family Services
1-855-323-3237
How to help someone in an abusive relationship
- Be supportive and listen
- Be non-judgmental
- Encourage them to talk to people who can provide help and guidance
- Remember that you cannot “rescue” them
- Call the YWCA’s 24-hour crisis line at 801-537-8600
From the National Domestic Violence Hotline
IF YOU BELIEVE YOU ARE IN AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP, THERE IS FREE, CONFIDENTIAL HELP AVAILABLE AT THE YWCA.
YWCA 24 Hour Crisis Line 801-537-8600 or Toll-Free 855-992-2752
Monday – Thursday 9 AM – 4 PM walk-in to the Salt Lake Area Family Justice Center *appointments needed at this time* call 801-236-3370 to schedule
Center for Families at YWCA Utah
310 East 300 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84111
In our work with women who have experienced abuse and violence, YWCA staff support autonomous, personally meaningful change, and avoid reinforcing abusive dynamics of power and control. Being safe and free at the heart of her life is fundamental to a woman’s self-determination and empowerment; to her ability to protect, support, and enrich the lives of those she loves; and to her capacity to participate in—and shape—the world around her.