SERV Domestic Violence Services

For referral information and to make a referral click here >

SERV (Services Empowering Rights of Victims) provides:

Domestic Violence services in Gloucester and Cumberland Counties. Additional info below.
Emergency safe housing for female victims of domestic violence. Click here for more info.
Sexual violence services in Camden, Gloucester, and Cumberland Counties. Click here for more info.

NJ State Certified Sexual Violence and Domestic Violence Response Advocates can be reached through the 24/7 toll-free hotlines:

Camden & Gloucester Counties: 1-866-295-SERV (7378)

Cumberland County: 1-800-225-0196

SERV (Services Empowering Rights of Victims) is the New Jersey State Designated Domestic Violence Program for Gloucester and Cumberland Counties. Services include 24/7 crisis intervention, advocacy, counseling and support to female and male victims of domestic violence. Advocates are available to offer legal, education, and housing assistance to victims of violence and their children. Ongoing counseling and support groups meet to help victims work recover from the trauma of abuse.

Emergency safe housing is available to women and children suffering from domestic violence. The safe house offers a caring environment for residents to explore their options without fear of victimization or concern for basic needs such as food, medical services, clothing, and shelter. SERV promotes prevention and provides outreach education in the community to dispel myths and raise public awareness of domestic violence issues.

SERV protects the rights of survivors to ensure they are treated with compassion and dignity. Support is offered for those close to the survivor through education, guidance and counseling. All services are provided free of charge, strictly confidential, culturally sensitive and bilingual.

Education & Training

SERV promotes prevention programs across the community providing educational programs to schools, community groups, social service providers, health care professionals, and law enforcement. All presentations are provided free of charge. Please contact serv@centerffs.org for more information or to schedule training.

Volunteer Opportunities

SERV values volunteers as an integral part of providing services to victims of domestic violence. Domestic Violence Response Team Advocate volunteers are needed within the SERV program. Click here for more information.

Information on Domestic Violence

What is Domestic Violence:

Domestic violence is a pattern of many behaviors directed at achieving and maintaining power and control over an intimate partner such as physical violence, emotional abuse, isolation of the victim, economic abuse, intimidation, and coercion and threats. If someone is abusing you or someone in your household, you do not have to accept it - even if you spouse is the abuser. If you are victim of domestic violence and need a safe place to go, call our 24 hour toll free hotline - Gloucester County: 1-866-295-SERV (7378) or Cumberland County: 1-800-225-0196.

Domestic Violence can include:

Physical Assault
Sexual Assault
Intimidation
Isolation
Verbal abuse or harassment, including disrespectful or demeaning comments
Threats against you or another family member
Creating disturbances at your place of work
Economic Control
Harassing telephone calls
Spying on you
Child abuse
Destruction of property or pets

How to protect yourself:

Learn where to get help; memorize emergency phone numbers
Keep a phone in a room you can lock from the inside; if you can, get a cellular phone that you keep with you at all times
If the abuser has moved out, change the locks on your door; get locks on the windows
Plan an escape route out of your home; teach it to your children
Think about where you would go if you need to escape
Ask your neighbors to call the police if they see the abuser at your house; make a signal for them to call the police, for example, if the phone rings twice, a shade is pulled down or a light is on
Pack a bag with important things you'd need if you had to leave quickly; put it in a safe place, or give it to a friend or relative you trust
Include cash, car keys & important information such as: court papers, passport or birth certificates, medical records & medicines, immigration papers
Tell your friends, family and co-workers

How to protect your children:

Teach them not to get in the middle of a fight, even if they want to help
Teach them how to get to safety, to call 911, to give your address & phone number to the police
Teach them who to call for help
Give the principal at school or the daycare center a copy of your court order; tell them not to release your children to anyone without talking to you first; use a password so they can be sure it is you on the phone; give them a photo of the abuser
Make sure the children know who to tell at school if they see the abuser
Make sure that the school knows not to give your address or phone number to ANYONE

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

The Family Violence Prevention Fund

Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project

Manavi

Men Can Stop Rape

National Center for Victims of Crime

National Coalition Against Domestic Violence

National Crime Prevention Center

The National Organization for Women

National Violence Against Women Prevention Research Center

New Jersey Coalition for Battered Women

New Jersey State Legislature