Domestic Violence Assistance Program (DV)
Confidential support, safety planning, and shelter options
If you’re dealing with abuse—or unsure if what’s happening is abuse—you can call Lassen Family Services for confidential support and practical next steps. For emergency shelter, please call (530) 257-4599 or (530) 257-5004.
You Deserve to Feel Safe
Clear help when things feel confusing or urgent
Domestic violence can include any pattern of behavior used to control, intimidate, or harm someone in a current or past relationship. It may start subtly and escalate over time, which can make it hard to name what’s happening or decide what to do next. You are not overreacting by asking questions or seeking support. Lassen Family Services can help you think through immediate safety, shelter options, and longer-term steps—without pressure. If you prefer in-person help, our office is at 1306 Riverside Drive, Susanville, California (Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.).
Signs That Something Isn’t Right
Common warning signs of domestic violence
These experiences can be warning signs, even if there hasn’t been physical harm.
- Extreme jealousy or possessiveness
- Pressure for the relationship to move very fast
- Isolation from friends and family
- Put-downs, criticism, or public embarrassment
- Being told what to do or how to dress
- Sexual pressure or coercion
- Constant calling or texting to monitor you
- Any form of physical harm
Forms of Abuse
Abuse can take many shapes
Physical abuse can include grabbing, shoving, slapping, hitting, hair pulling, biting, or blocking you from getting medical care. Sexual abuse can include any sexual contact without consent, coercion, forced sexual acts, or being pressured after violence. Economic abuse can look like controlling money, preventing you from working or going to school, or withholding access to basic needs. Emotional and psychological abuse can include intimidation, threats, isolation, name-calling, mind games, and threats to harm pets, property, you, or themselves.
Some people also experience reproductive control, such as sabotage of birth control, pressure for unprotected sex, or interference with medical decisions. Abuse can involve threats tied to identity, such as threatening to “out” someone or share private health information. If you’re an older adult or a dependent adult, abuse can also include neglect and financial exploitation, and you still deserve safety and support. If you’re unsure how to categorize what’s happening, you can still reach out—clarity is part of support.
Safety Planning
Small steps that can reduce risk
Your safety matters, and a safety plan can help you think through options—whether you’re staying, preparing to leave, or have already left. Here are a few steps people often find helpful.
01
Keep key numbers accessible
Save or write down numbers for police, hotlines, trusted friends, and local support so you can reach help quickly if you need it. If you have children, teach them how to dial 911 and create a simple code word they can use to signal they need help.
02
Identify safer areas and exits
Think about places in your home that have an exit and fewer potential weapons, and move toward those areas if you sense escalation. If you can, practice a safe way to leave—so your body already knows the steps under stress.
03
Prepare a “go” bag and a backup plan
If it’s safe, put aside essentials (keys, ID, medications, important documents, a change of clothes) and keep them somewhere you can access quickly. Even if you don’t plan to leave now, knowing where you could go and how you’d get there can reduce panic in urgent moments.
04
Plan for safety after leaving
Consider changing routines, telling trusted neighbors, and sharing restraining order copies with schools, childcare, and workplace contacts when appropriate. Lassen Family Services may be able to provide a cell phone to call 911, and an advocate can help you think through safety at home, at work, and in public spaces.
Frequently Asked Questions
Clear answers for your next step
Do you have a domestic violence shelter in Susanville?
Lassen Family Services may be able to help with emergency shelter when it’s not safe to stay where you are. To request emergency shelter, please call (530) 257-4599 or (530) 257-5004. For safety reasons, shelter location details are not shared publicly. An advocate can explain options and help you plan the safest way forward.
Can you help me make a safety plan?
Yes. Safety planning is one of the most important supports we provide, and it can be tailored to your situation—whether you’re staying, preparing to leave, or have already left. You can talk through warning signs, safer areas, exits, communication plans, and what to gather if you need to go quickly. If children are involved, we can also help you think through age-appropriate safety steps. You don’t need to have a perfect plan—starting small is still meaningful.
Can you help with a restraining order?
Yes. We provide advocacy support related to domestic violence restraining orders and harassment orders, including help understanding the process and court accompaniment. We can help you organize information, plan for the day of court, and feel more prepared. We do not provide legal advice, but we can help reduce confusion and stress around the steps. If you’re unsure whether an order applies to your situation, you can talk it through with an advocate.
I’m not sure what counts as abuse—does my situation qualify?
Many people hesitate to reach out because they worry it “isn’t bad enough,” especially when the abuse is not physical. Domestic violence can include intimidation, control, threats, isolation, financial control, sexual pressure, and emotional harm. If you feel afraid, controlled, or unsafe, that matters. You can call to talk it through and get clarity without being judged.
If I contact you, will my information be kept private?
We treat privacy and confidentiality with care, and we focus on helping you stay in control of what you share. An advocate can explain confidentiality in plain language, including any limits that may apply in specific situations. If privacy is a concern because someone monitors your phone or device, tell us—there may be safer ways to communicate. Your safety comes first, and support should never increase your risk.