Services & Resources

Help/Crisis Line

The DAIS Crisis Line provides crisis intervention, safety planning, support, information, and referrals to survivors of domestic abuse, their families, friends, other service providers, and the general public. The Crisis Line is the gateway to all other DAIS services. The Crisis Line is answered by trained volunteers and staff and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Crisis Line can be reached at 608-251-4445 or 800-747-4045 (toll free in Dane County).

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Emergency Safe House

DAIS runs the only domestic violence safe house in Dane County. The DAIS Emergency Safe House offers housing, food, clothing, support and resources for survivors of domestic violence and their children. Residents receive legal assistance, support and counseling, referrals to other community resources, and access to medical and social services. Residents receive individual case management and assist one another through resident support groups. Special programming is available for children residing in the Safe House.

What it Provides

The DAIS Safe House provides emergency shelter for survivors of domestic violence and their children. The Safe House provides the following:

  • Housing, food, and clothing.
  • A secure home run cooperatively by the staff, you, and other residents.
  • Trained staff to help you get in contact with legal advocates and to access medical and social services.
  • Support and counseling referrals for your children.
  • An opportunity for your children to have positive social experiences in kids programs.
  • Follow-up services, such as support groups and continued help from an advocate, after you leave the safe house.

What It Is, Preparing for Your Stay, What to Expect

What It Is

  • Communal living (up to 25 residents) in a six-bedroom, two-bathroom home.
  • You will be provided a locker to secure your valuables.
  • Staff is available 24 hours a day to provide support and resources.

Preparing for Your Stay

  • Only two bags are allowed per person (adults and children) when coming into the Safe House.
  • Food, personal care items and diapers are provided by the Safe House if needed.

What to Expect

  • You are likely to share a room with another resident (and possibly their children).
  • Most rooms include bunk beds (toddler beds are also available).
  • There is a 10:00 pm curfew for all residents unless work schedule interferes (documentation will be necessary).
  • Residents are required to meet with their assigned Advocate two times per week during their stay.
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Children's Program

The DAIS Children’s Program provides family-focused crisis intervention services to children from violent homes. Our goal is to provide children from violent homes with physical and emotional safety, structure and consistency, opportunities to process their feelings and experiences through age-appropriate play and creative activities, and experiences with positive discipline. The DAIS Children’s Program is open to children residing in shelter, as well as children whose parents attend the DAIS Community Support Group. Programming is offered five days a week and is staffed by volunteers who have been trained to recognize and respond to the needs of children in crisis.

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Crisis Response

The DAIS Crisis Response Program provides direct assistance to survivors of domestic violence at safe, confidential locations across Dane County. Crisis Response Advocates provide domestic abuse survivors with face-to-face emergency safety planning, basic restraining order assistance, housing information, parenting support, and referrals to other community resources. Children’s Advocates are available when children accompany parents to Crisis Response appointments. This program serves both female and male survivors, and allows DAIS to assist people in outlying areas who may not be able to access Madison-based services.

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Support Groups

DAIS offers two weekly, drop-in Community Support Group for women across Dane County. Women can join the Community Support Group whenever they wish. The Group is “peer-based,” meaning participants share and support each other. A simultaneous children’s group is held, so that women facing childcare barriers may bring their children with them to group. The Community Support Group follows a regular format each time it meets. We start with a check-in (name, how they are feeling, if they want time to share), a quote or a poem with discussion about the selected piece, and finally open discussion.

The goals of the DAIS Community Support Group are to decrease isolation, increase safety, and connect participants with other DAIS services and community resources. Please call the DAIS Crisis Line at 608-251-4445 for more information.

Support Group for Men Surviving Domestic Violence

OutReach, Madison and south-central Wisconsin's lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community center and Domestic Abuse Intervention Services are offering a group for any man dealing with the effects of emotional, verbal, and physical abuse by a partner or ex-partner. This is an open, crisis-based peer support group with an initial screening for group participation.

The group will include open, sharing peer support, and may incorporate helpful informational materials. Topics may include the dynamics of abuse, safety planning, self-esteem, physical and emotional health, effects of domestic abuse on children, and community resources. For more information or to sign up, please call Outreach at 608.255.8582 or email at men.dv.support@gmail.com.

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Sheltering Animals of Abuse Victims

Unfortunately, research shows that abusers often use pets to leverage power and control over their family, through threats, acts of cruelty, and even causing the death of family pets. Statistics show that many victims remain in violent situations because they are afraid to leave their pets behind. This is a choice that no domestic abuse victim should ever have to make.

Through the Sheltering Animals of Abuse Victims ("SAAV") Program, victims of domestic abuse may be eligible to place their pets in a temporary and confidential shelter location for a period of up to 90 days.

The SAAV Program is a separate 501(c)(3) non-profit all volunteer organization, which provides services to domestic abuse victims with pets through a collaboration between DAIS and the Dane County Humane Society. All intake into the SAAV Program takes place directly through DAIS. Therefore, victims who are interested in potentially receiving services through The SAAV Program should contact DAIS 24 hour help line at 1-608-251-4445 or toll-free at 1-800-747-4045.

To learn more about The SAAV Program, or to learn about the link between domestic violence and animal abuse, visit www.saavprogram.org.

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