It has been seven years since NEWS rebranded to more effectively represent the fact that we also help men, children, and LGBTQ+ people in our community. We still catch people referring to us as Napa Emergency Women’s Services, and we are proud of our history of giving abused women a voice and a future, so we gently remind them that we don’t just serve women… and it doesn’t have to be an emergency!

During June we like to emphasize our services for the LGBTQ+ community here in Napa County. According to the the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence there are several aspects of intimate partner violence which can be unique to the LGBTQ+ community. “Outing” or threatening to reveal one partner’s sexual orientation/gender identity may be used as a tool of abuse in violent relationships and may also be a barrier which reduces the likelihood of help-seeking for the abuse. Prior experiences of physical or psychological trauma, such as bullying and hate crime, may make LGBTQ+ victims of domestic violence less likely to seek help. You can find out more about our LGBTQ+ Services HERE.

Also, in June, we like to recognize the brave fathers that seek our services. Recently, we had a client who reached out after leaving his abuser due to realizing the red flags in their relationship. His mother was a domestic violence (DV) survivor and he knew what it was like to be a child in a home with DV. He shares two children with his abuser and he did not want to repeat a cycle and have them witness the type of abuse he witnessed as a child; so he left. He is now working on receiving therapy for himself, custody of his children, and will be looking into therapy for them as well.

As NEWS grows, please know we are here to help - men, women, children, and the LGBTQ+ community. All services are free and confidential!

Karen Calhoun
NEWS Marketing & Communications Director

NEWS has been doing a series of community education presentations around grooming based on a training we took with forensic psychologist Cory Jewell. She conducted a study on several convicted offenders that she worked with and they talk about how they found their victims and groomed not only them but their families as well. NEWS has been co-presenting with the District Attorney’s office, Calistoga Police Department and Napa County Sheriff's office.

There was a second round of presentations at Napa Junction Elementary in American Canyon both in English and Spanish and it had a great turnout. Univision, a national Spanish language television network, had a reporter there during the Spanish session with NEWS sexual assault advocates Araceli and Elizabeth! They were interviewed about the goals of this education series.

"We are so excited to be able to have this larger reach. We are hoping to find more venues that will host us and continue having these important sessions throughout the valley as more people hear about it," said Christina G., NEWS Sexual Assault Victim Services Program Manager.

Click the thumbnail below for the Univision coverage.

 If you are experiencing abuse or would just like some information, please call our help line, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

NEWS Youth Prevention Services Manager, Carla Andrade-Maston, recently received a Prevention Champion Award through the Catalyst Coalition for all of her hard work serving our local middle and high school students! The mission of the Prevention, Education & Outreach Program (YOUthMatter) is to provide students, families and our community support and tools to improve relationships. Additionally, we provide coping strategies and resources to help youth navigate and overcome difficult situations. The goal is not only to inform but to empower those in our community to live a life free of violence. Carla works very hard to make sure our youth in this community are informed, and cared for. 

Ana Soto, NEWS Program Director said, “It is an honor to work with people as dedicated and empathetic as Carla. She deserves this award and so much more. Our youth is our future, and because of Carla it'll be that much brighter. Congratulations!”