How many domestic violence resources are in North Dakota?

Women's Corner tracks 15 domestic violence resources for women in North Dakota.

Are domestic violence resources in North Dakota free?

15 of the 15 listed domestic violence resources in North Dakota are explicitly free or low-cost.

Which cities in North Dakota have domestic violence resources?

Listings span cities including Bismarck, Grand Forks, Fargo.

What are some examples of domestic violence resources in North Dakota?

Featured entries include National Domestic Violence Hotline, ND Council on Abused Women's Services (CAWS), Abused Adult Resource Center — Bismarck, Community Violence Intervention Center — Grand Forks, Rape & Abuse Crisis Center — Fargo.

Do these listings include phone numbers?

5 of 15 North Dakota domestic violence listings include phone numbers.

How do I get a restraining order?

Go to your county's family or civil courthouse and ask the clerk for a 'protective order' or 'order of protection' petition — no attorney or filing fee required. Temporary ex parte orders can be issued the same day. A full hearing follows within 10–21 days. Court advocates and DV agencies help fill out forms; bring any evidence (texts, photos, police reports).

Where can I go right now if I'm not safe?

Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (text START to 88788) — they connect you to your nearest shelter, arrange emergency transport, and help with a safety plan. Shelters are confidential, free, and 24/7. If you're in immediate danger, call 911 and ask for a DV advocate at the scene.

Will the shelter take my kids?

Yes. Domestic violence shelters accept women with children — most accommodate boys up to age 17 (a few have age limits around 12–13 for older boys, and will arrange alternate placement nearby). Pets are increasingly welcome through programs like RedRover and Sheltering Animals & Families Together. Bring kids' birth certificates, school records, and any medications if you can.

Is the hotline really free and confidential?

Yes — the National DV Hotline and all state DV hotlines are free, confidential, anonymous, available 24/7, and offered in 200+ languages. Advocates don't report to police, immigration, or CPS unless you request it (mandatory reporting applies only to active child abuse). You can call to plan, vent, or just ask questions before deciding anything.

Best Domestic Violence in North Dakota — 15 resources

About Domestic Violence for Women

Domestic violence services for women are anchored by the National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-SAFE), the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), and a state coalition in every state coordinated through the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV). VAWA funds shelters, transitional housing, legal services, and immigration relief (U-visa, T-visa, VAWA self-petition). Survivors can obtain civil protective orders, address-confidentiality through state ACP programs, and victim advocates through local prosecutor offices. The National Sexual Assault Hotline (1-800-656-HOPE) and StrongHearts Native Helpline serve specific survivor populations. This directory includes hotlines, shelters, state DV coalitions, and protective order resources.

Domestic Violence in North Dakota

North Dakota district courts handle family matters across seven judicial districts. The Child Support Division operates under DHHS. Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks, and Minot are the largest cities. Legal Services of North Dakota and CAWS North Dakota (the statewide DV coalition) provide civil legal aid and safety services to women.

15 Resources

1. National Domestic Violence Hotline — Free

The National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 is staffed 24/7 by trained advocates who safety-plan with callers and provide warm referrals to the four ND DV programs. Text START to 88788 or chat at thehotline.org if speaking aloud isn't safe. Language services in 200+ languages including Spanish and Lakota.

800-799-7233 · Statewide Phone Service · 24/7 · Visit Website

2. ND Council on Abused Women's Services (CAWS) — Free

CAWS North Dakota at 525 N 4th St in Bismarck is the state coalition coordinating the 19 DV/SA programs that cover all 53 counties. The 888-255-6240 statewide line connects survivors to their local shelter and to CAWS's policy advocacy team. Free training materials and survivor-led publications available at ndcaws.org.

888-255-6240 · 525 N 4th St, Bismarck, ND 58501 · 24/7 Hotline · Visit Website

3. Abused Adult Resource Center — Bismarck — Free

Abused Adult Resource Center (AARC) operates Bismarck's confidentially-located shelter and the South-Central Judicial District's DV legal advocacy program. The 24/7 hotline at 701-222-8370 dispatches advocates to hospital ERs and law-enforcement scenes. Services cover Burleigh, Morton, Sioux, Emmons, Grant, McLean, Mercer, Oliver, and Sheridan counties.

701-222-8370 · Bismarck, ND (confidential location) · 24/7 Hotline · Visit Website

4. Community Violence Intervention Center — Grand Forks — Free

CVIC at 211 S 4th St serves the Northeast Region with emergency shelter, the Family Justice Center model (police, prosecutor, and advocate co-located), and children's grief therapy. Call 701-746-8900 24/7 to access shelter or to schedule a daytime advocacy intake. Specialized programs serve Air Force families at Grand Forks AFB.

701-746-8900 · Grand Forks, ND (confidential location) · 24/7 Hotline

5. Rape & Abuse Crisis Center — Fargo — Free

RACC at 317 8th St N in Fargo serves Cass County (ND) and Clay County (MN) with a 24/7 hotline at 701-293-7273, hospital advocacy, court accompaniment, and group therapy for adult survivors of sexual violence. The Tubman House provides emergency shelter for women fleeing immediate danger. Spanish-speaking advocates on staff.

701-293-7273 · Fargo, ND · 24/7 Hotline · Visit Website

6. National Domestic Violence Hotline — Free

Beyond crisis response, the National DV Hotline website at thehotline.org publishes safety-planning worksheets, the Power & Control Wheel translated into multiple languages, and guides specifically for ND survivors on protective orders (NDCC 14-07.1) and the new federal firearms relinquishment rule. Free to download and print without an account.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

7. Loveisrespect — Free

Loveisrespect at 866-331-9474 (text LOVEIS to 22522) is run by the National DV Hotline specifically for teens and young adults in dating violence. The teen-focused chat is staffed by trained advocates who understand school-based safety planning, social-media stalking, and the specific challenges of young rural ND women dating older partners.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

8. StrongHearts Native Helpline — Free

StrongHearts (844-7NATIVE) is the culturally specific hotline for Native women in ND — particularly survivors from Standing Rock, Spirit Lake, Fort Berthold, and Turtle Mountain. Advocates understand tribal jurisdiction, federal Major Crimes Act applicability, and the cultural framework of healing that mainstream services often miss.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

9. National Coalition Against Domestic Violence — Free

NCADV is the federation of state DV coalitions including CAWS North Dakota. Public resources at ncadv.org include the Survivor Voices podcast, financial abuse recovery toolkits, and policy briefs on the federal Violence Against Women Act reauthorization that shapes ND program funding.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

10. Futures Without Violence — Free

Futures Without Violence develops the evidence-based health care DV screening tools used by Sanford and Altru clinics in ND. Mothers can download the Healing Together coloring book for children exposed to violence, plus the CUES intervention card that helps providers initiate safety conversations during routine visits.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

11. DomesticShelters.org — Free

DomesticShelters.org is a free searchable database of DV shelters with verified contact info, services, and admission criteria. Searching ZIP codes across rural western ND reveals which programs accept pets, transgender women, women with addictions, and women with male teen sons — variations not always clear from agency websites.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

12. Asian Pacific Institute on Gender-Based Violence — Free

API-GBV provides language-specific resources for ND's growing AAPI population — Hmong, Bhutanese, and Karen women resettled in Fargo through Lutheran Social Services. Multilingual safety planning materials, immigration relief guides (T-visa, U-visa, VAWA), and a national directory of culturally specific programs.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

13. Casa de Esperanza — Free

Casa de Esperanza in St. Paul leads the National Latin@ Network — particularly relevant for ND Latina survivors whose nearest in-language shelter may be across the border in Minnesota. The 24/7 Línea de Crisis at 651-772-1611 serves Spanish-speaking callers; the website hosts U-visa and VAWA self-petition guidance in Spanish.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

14. Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) — Free

OVW within the US Department of Justice administers VAWA and STOP grants that fund CAWS North Dakota and its member programs. Survivors can read OVW's public summaries of federal protections — including the Lautenberg Amendment firearms ban — at justice.gov/ovw to understand which federal laws their abuser may have violated.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

15. RAINN — Sexual Assault Hotline — Free

RAINN's 800-656-HOPE routes to the local rape crisis center based on caller area code — for ND, typically the Rape & Abuse Crisis Center in Fargo, AARC in Bismarck, or CVIC in Grand Forks. The online chat at online.rainn.org offers the same service for survivors who cannot speak privately on the phone.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

Frequently Asked

How many domestic violence resources are in North Dakota?: Women's Corner tracks 15 domestic violence resources for women in North Dakota.
Are domestic violence resources in North Dakota free?: 15 of the 15 listed domestic violence resources in North Dakota are explicitly free or low-cost.
Which cities in North Dakota have domestic violence resources?: Listings span cities including Bismarck, Grand Forks, Fargo.
What are some examples of domestic violence resources in North Dakota?: Featured entries include National Domestic Violence Hotline, ND Council on Abused Women's Services (CAWS), Abused Adult Resource Center — Bismarck, Community Violence Intervention Center — Grand Forks, Rape & Abuse Crisis Center — Fargo.
Do these listings include phone numbers?: 5 of 15 North Dakota domestic violence listings include phone numbers.
How do I get a restraining order?: Go to your county's family or civil courthouse and ask the clerk for a 'protective order' or 'order of protection' petition — no attorney or filing fee required. Temporary ex parte orders can be issued the same day. A full hearing follows within 10–21 days. Court advocates and DV agencies help fill out forms; bring any evidence (texts, photos, police reports).
Where can I go right now if I'm not safe?: Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (text START to 88788) — they connect you to your nearest shelter, arrange emergency transport, and help with a safety plan. Shelters are confidential, free, and 24/7. If you're in immediate danger, call 911 and ask for a DV advocate at the scene.
Will the shelter take my kids?: Yes. Domestic violence shelters accept women with children — most accommodate boys up to age 17 (a few have age limits around 12–13 for older boys, and will arrange alternate placement nearby). Pets are increasingly welcome through programs like RedRover and Sheltering Animals & Families Together. Bring kids' birth certificates, school records, and any medications if you can.
Is the hotline really free and confidential?: Yes — the National DV Hotline and all state DV hotlines are free, confidential, anonymous, available 24/7, and offered in 200+ languages. Advocates don't report to police, immigration, or CPS unless you request it (mandatory reporting applies only to active child abuse). You can call to plan, vent, or just ask questions before deciding anything.