We provide our services to help you in every way we can. You can use just one of our services, or you could use all of them.
These services are completely free (thanks to our donors and grant funders). To use our services, all you have to do is -
Click to learn more about each of our services:
We understand difficult moments happen when you least expect them.
That's why our call line and text line are open 24 hours a day / 7 days a week.
Call us:
- for immediate help during a crisis
- for answers to any of your questions
- for someone to talk to even when you feel you can't talk to anyone
- We can call medical services for you:
*Only if you ask us to and give us your full consent, do we call and/or give any of your information to any other authority, service provider, or agency.
This includes law enforcement agencies (and - yes legally we can do this: keep your information private).
The threat of the law being used to harm you and/or make your situation worse is very real. The power of the law to help you and protect you is also very real.
And we can help you harness that power of the law, when you're ready and if you want too.
- We can literally give you a place to stay right now ( or whenever you need it ).
- We can help you plan how to leave so everyone's safe.
- We can help everyone, really everyone, all:
All of us have life goals. Even if right now it's painful to dream or it seems useless, deep down you still hold on to a vision of what you want your life to be. And you're not crazy or naive for holding onto that vision, for still holding on to your life goals.
You just need some help.
And that's ok, because all of us need help. More importantly, all of us (even you) deserve help.
So, Defy provides you with your own Personal Advocate: a person dedicated to helping you reach your life goals by helping you defy the obstacles standing between your vision for your life and where you are right now.
Your Personal Advocate gives you one-on-one mentorship to help you craft, plan, and reach your goals for your:
- career
- relationships
- family
- and life.
They don't simply check-in with you every now and then; and they sure don't just stand over shoulder to keep tabs on you. They walk with you through your journey as a helping hand.
Your Personal Advocate doesn't simply focus on what has already happened in your life. They focus on what is coming next in your life.
Finding safety is the vital and most important step in removing domestic abuse from your life, but it is only the first step.
If you don't build up every area of your life, domestic abuse can find its way back in.
So we created the Personal Advocate program to help you go past the first step, to help you build a strong foundation and a strong life, to help you ensure you never go through domestic abuse ever again.
Here's just a few ways your Personal Advocate can help you reach your goals:
Parenting discussions are offered through Defy using a curriculum that has been identified for families that have experienced abuse.
Our Family Advocate can work with you to discuss the stressors of parenting, discipline, bonding, and more.
If you happen to be working with Child Protective Services, our Family Advocate can also connect with your caseworker to help you more successfully navigate their requirements.
*Unfortunately, we are not always able to provide transportation or childcare, so please talk with your Personal Advocate on how to get these needs met.
Participation in parenting classes are not restricted to people with children; everyone can participate in parenting classes - even people without children.
We all have children we encounter, whether they are your own children or the children of our friends or family. So participating in this parenting class (no matter your circumstance) will help you better understand and engage with the children around you.
To accommodate your needs and schedule, these classes are provided by our Family Advocate either one-on-one or in a group. After completing the curriculum, you will receive a certificate of completion.
When a parent goes through a difficult situation, often the effects are felt by everyone including the children. For this reason, our program also offers services for your children.
And to met your family's individual needs, no matter what they are, we've created various child and youth support formats such as:
Our program is not always able to offer child care to participants, but participants can be assisted by their Personal Advocates in obtaining child care assistance through local service providers.
As we are focused on providing a non-violent environment for everyone, the use of corporal punishment for children is not allowed on the program’s property. If staff hears or witnesses this type of punishment being used by a participant, staff will address the situation.
1. For survivors over the age of 18, we currently offer a women's | men's | and LGBTQ support group.
2. We also have a Life-skills group to focus on more tangible, everyday skills.
3. Plus, we also have a children support group and teen support group.
Our support groups are offered:
| Women's Support Group:
- Monday | 5PM to 6PM |
Defy Domestic Abuse Beloit Office Building
416 College St, Beloit, WI 53511
(608) 365-1119
| Life-Skills Group:
- Thursday | 10AM to 11AM |
Defy Domestic Abuse Beloit Office Building
416 College St, Beloit, WI 53511
(608) 365-1119
| Men's Support Group:
- 2nd & 4th Wednesday | 5PM to 6PM |
Defy Domestic Abuse Beloit Office Building
416 College St, Beloit, WI 53511
(608) 365-1119
| Children's Support Group:
- Monday | 5PM to 6PM |
Defy Domestic Abuse Beloit Office Building
416 College St, Beloit, WI 53511
(608) 365-1119
- Thursday | 10AM to 11AM |
Defy Domestic Abuse Beloit Office Building
416 College St, Beloit, WI 53511
(608) 365-1119
| Teens Support Group:
- Thursday | 330PM to 430PM |
Defy Domestic Abuse Beloit Office Building
416 College St, Beloit, WI 53511
(608) 365-1119
We cover a wide range of topics in support group. Sometimes we just talk in group but sometimes we participate in a group activity.
*Group is completely confidential so please know that what you talk about will not be shared outside of group (and we expect you to also not share other's information or what's talked about in group with anyone outside of group).
If you do attend group, it is preferred that you are:
- on-time,
- dressed appropriately, and
- engaged in the activity/discussion.
For those with financial barriers, Defy is able to provide mental health counseling to adults, children, and families.
To provide this, we partner with our fellow Family Services Program:
Individual and Family Counseling.
The therapists we work with are highly-experienced in working with trauma and are even certified in play-therapy for young children.
No.
But we live in the same place you do, and we feel the stigma around mental healthcare just as much as you. We just defy it.
And we're here to help you defy it too.
If you got in car accident, would you be put down or put yourself down for going to the hospital? the doctor? to physical therapy? or to a chiropractor?
A car accident is terrible, and that terrible event happens in a few seconds and is over. Domestic abuse is never just a few seconds long. It builds up and up and keeps going and going until you defy it.
Imagine getting into a fender bender every single day and then a t-bone and then another t-bone and another and another and another.
Even if you say, "Yeah...but they just say stupid things. They don't like hit me or anything," doesn't mean it's not a terrible event. Doesn't mean you don't deserve help and understanding.
If a friend told you they went to the chiropractor because they got in fender bender, what would you say to them? Would you put them down for that? (Problem not).
So, try to give yourself the same understanding and care.
One of the major pillars of abuse is controlling your finances and resources. This control can range from scrutinizing your every purchase to harming you if you work or use money "without permission."
Plus, not having enough money and resources may force you to keep living with or keep someone living with you who is abusive because you literally can't afford to leave or to have them leave.
All of that to say domestic abuse distorts, stunts, and limits your financial skill set, and a limited skill set in turn makes you more susceptible to domestic abuse.
But, we're here to help you defy this vicious cycle, and that's why we offer a financial planning service to you.
Yes.
We partner with our fellow Family Services program, Life Financial Solutions, to provide you with this service.
Life Financial Solutions is the area’s only local, non-profit financial counseling agency. For over 20 years, their trained, certified, and experienced financial professionals have helped hundreds of individuals and families achieve their financial dreams and well-being.
This program can work with you:
- to create a household budget,
- to navigate debt, and
- to build credit for a successful financial future
( We can even help you learn about and navigate through the bankruptcy process. )
In other words, we can help:
- Reduce your stress by helping you target financial problems and create practical, do-able solutions.
We do this by analyzing your debt, savings and spending
------and then provide you with realistic recommendations and a do-able financial action plan.
To better help you defy domestic abuse, we're constantly adding new speciality services.
Many times these specialties become part of our core program, but other times, we can only offer them for a limited time.
So, our current rotating services are listed below (and as we're constantly adding new services, we're constantly updating this list).
Currently, other services that we offer are:
If there's a service you need that hasn't already been listed, please talk to your Personal Advocate, and we will do everything we can to get this service to you.