Domestic Violence

The Department of Public Health is committed to supporting survivors of domestic violence. Ask your healthcare provider for assistance and support. Staff at all of the health centers are trained to talk about domestic violence. Please talk to them.

Domestic violence is a pattern of coercive behaviors that involves physical abuse or the threat of physical abuse. It also may include repeated psychological abuse, assault, progressive social isolation, deprivation, intimidation or economic coercion. Domestic violence is perpetrated by adults or adolescents against their intimate partners in current or former dating, married or cohabiting relationships of heterosexuals, gay men and lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered people.

If you are experiencing domestic violence... you are not alone, you are not to blame, you do not deserve to be treated this way.

• Are you afraid to go home?
• Have there been threats of homicide or suicide?
• Are there weapons present?
• Can you stay with family or friends?
• Do you need access to shelter?
• Do you want police intervention?

If someone is hurting you or you think you might hurt someone else, please call for help right away.  You can call the national domestic violence hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (1-900-799-SAFE) or local services in San Francisco at: 

• Domestic Violence Resources (Acrobat file, 1 pg)

If you would like to learn more about domestic violence, please visit these websites:

• Look to End Abuse Permanently (LEAP)
• San Francisco Violence Prevention Network
• Intimate Partner Violence Strategic Plan
• CASARC: Child & Adolescent Support Advocacy & Resource Center
• Maternal, Child & Adolescent Health
• Preventing Violence, Roadmap for Rape Treatment Center