Harford County, Maryland

They provide trauma-informed, wrap around, mental health and wellness services for victims of sexual violence, IPV, and stalking. 

Their services include: Individual and/or group counseling for victims and their non-offending family members. They also offer case management. They provide additional psychoeducation and support, as well as medication management. Additionally, they offer nutrition coaching, assistance in preparing meals, and identifying healthy meal options that fit in your budget and your lifestyle. They also offer alternative forms of therapies and support, including trauma-informed yoga which allows one to re-establish a sense of safety, security, and comfort in their body. Mindfulness meditation techniques help you build a sense of awareness without judgment.  Dance, an alternative form of therapy restores and maintains a feeling of ownership and sense of self in your own comfort zone. Expressive arts, another alternative therapy that allows for creative expressions, such as crafts, poetry, and music, are also available. Finally, education & career counseling support are available to help further your career and educational goals; such as resume development, interviewing skills, and tutoring.  

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For those who require intensive support related to trauma, they also offer virtual programs for adults 18yrs and older:

Intensive Outpatient Program:

This program is held Monday-Wednesday for 3 hours a day for 5 weeks,

either a 9 AM-12 PM program  OR a 5 PM-8 PM program.

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Psychiatric Day Program (Partial Hospitalization Program): 

This program is a step-down from inpatient hospitalization; held Monday-Friday from 8:45 AM-3:15 PM for five weeks.

SARC, located in Bel Air, is Harford County’s "lifeline" to victims, potential victims, and survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, child abuse and stalking. 

SARC provides safe housing, with a 40 bed shelter, counseling and client services including legal services, and abuser intervention for adults and teens. They also provide advocacy, resources, and education in Harford County.

24-Hour Helpline at 410-836-8430.

ATA offers self-defense classes at a school that maintains a safe and positive environment for you to achieve your goals.

An advocate can help you understand the risks of your situation, assist you in connecting with resources, and provide information useful in developing a safety plan. They can help you navigate police, court, social services, and other community agencies.

You may meet with an advocate one time or receive ongoing services. Advocates are available both by phone and in person.

Advocates provide the following services:

• Assessment, including risk assessment
• Individualized safety planning
• Crisis intervention
• Connection to resources
• Court accompaniment to provide support at protective order and other hearings
• Advocacy in accessing services and protection of victim/survivor rights
• Information and referral
• Follow-up outreach and support
• Mobile advocacy, provided at community-based locations, such as court

They focus on a parallel coordinated entry system to address the concerns of victims fleeing domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and stalking, which works to simplify the process of getting connected to potential sheltering and housing resources.

Every client has a chance to work with a counselor or coaching services to help increase safety and stability.

Call an advocate: 410-828-6390.

Call a counselor: 410-285-4357 

Since 1849, Springboard Community Services has been dedicated to transforming the lives of Maryland’s most vulnerable. 

Their comprehensive free or low cost services, span the life cycle. They offer case management, counseling, and support. Springboard serves 5 locations; one in Baltimore City, Carroll, and Harford counties and two in Howard County. They are also the identified domestic violence provider for Carroll County and West Baltimore County. 

This course teaches Japanese jujitsu, which incorporates aspects of karate, judo and aikido. They don't focus on just stand-up or ground fighting, they incorporate all of it. This course's primary approach is self-defense not competition or sport application. The specific styles they teach are Budoshin Jujitsu and American Combat Jujitsu. This class currently meets one night a week and is by invitation only because they are working out of a fairly small location. Unfortunately, they do not have youth classes. All participants must be at least 16 years of age.

One of the nation’s leading IPV centers, helping thousands of battered women and their children find safety and security. They ensure victims in danger receive services and shelter immediately. They also work with abusers to change their behavior. They provide services to anyone regardless of race, age, sexual orientation, religion, ability, or gender; this includes all types of violence physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional, economic, and psychological abuse. They conduct outreach  education, and training since IPV is a societal issue which impacts individuals, families, workplaces, and communities. 

Call 24/7 Hotline: 410-889-7884

Legal Hotline: 888-880-7884

Learn to protect yourself with this course designed to teach you what you don’t know about protecting yourself, or the people you love from physical violence. Their curriculum is focused on applying the fundamentals of modern MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) to self-defense scenarios. This program is beginner friendly and intended for people of all abilities who may not be interested in studying traditional martial arts full time, but still want to feel confident that they have an appropriate response in a bad situation. 

• Stance, footwork and defending punches
• Punching / Striking 
• Stand up grappling
• Falling down, and getting back up
• Fighting on the ground
• Escapes
• Chokes
• Joint locking / Submission grappling
• Weapons and other real world concerns

Learn techniques from Boxing, Wrestling, Muay Thai, Jujitsu, and other martial arts styles, but more importantly, learn how to use them effectively together. This method focuses on realistic resistance training, pressure testing, and sparring, with an emphasis on teaching applications likely to be useful in real world self-defense situations.

The Annapolis Police department provides services for all type of stalking victims, including IPV/DV, acquaintances, and strangers. They clearly articulate the types of intrusions that can occur, and how victims can react.

Annapolis Police: 410-268-4141 

In a world where women are often seen as targets and victims, Gracie (Brazilian) jiu-jitsu offers practical self-defense tools that are designed specifically to teach smaller, weaker individuals how to survive against, escape from, and even defeat, larger, stronger opponents. Jiu-jitsu relies on distance management, timing, and leverage for its’ techniques’ execution, not speed, size, or power. It is the ideal martial art for women of all shapes and sizes. No previous experience or athletic ability is required to start jiu-jitsu, nor is age a limiting factor. Come as you are, start as you are. This program aims to empower women and teens to protect themselves. Learning self-defense through jiu-jitsu offers women and girls the confidence to defend themselves when needed, while building and being part of a community of like-minded supportive individuals. Beyond just self defense, jiu-jitsu is a fun, challenging way to exercise and learn a new skill. This is a warm, welcoming, family environment. You will find in every class that the instructors and students alike are focused on helping each other improve in a safe, non-competitive atmosphere. They also offer Jiu-Jitsu Fundamentals classes six days a week, multiple general self-defense classes, morning classes, and daytime classes, Muay Thai (kickboxing) and yoga classes. 

HopeWorks mission is to support and advocate for people in Howard County affected by IPV and sexual violence and to develop community engagement for prevention strategies.

CALL 24/7 Helpline: (410) 997-2272

These classes are a great way to start learning authentic and proven self-defense in a safe environment supported by other women. Their emphasis is on family environments that further grows the community of female Jiu Jitsu practitioners. The classes are diverse with teenagers, young women, and mothers training side by side. The course teaches the core principles of Gracie Jiu jitsu, a martial art based upon maximizing timing, technique, and leverage to overcome a much bigger and stronger opponent. Through a concise and technical methodology, the curriculum allows a smaller opponent to survive and get home safely. This is not about overpowering your opponent or "winning" a fight; it is about survival. This course can help you build confidence in knowing how to protect  yourself if you need to!