APIA Services

Our Traditional Knowledge and Healthy Relationships go Hand-in-Hand

Wan alagim ilan anagim angagingin usuu Aguugum agach ngiin agiqaa (E) 

Algas ama anagim angagingis huzungis Aguugum agacha ngiin agiqaa haqataasada (W)

If you feel you are in a life-threatening situation, call 911.
If you or someone you know is experiencing thoughts of suicide or self-harm, call or text 988, or visit 988.alaska.gov.
For non-emergency assistance, referrals and resources, call 211.

APIA’s warm crisis line: 1-844-359-2743

To receive our assistance, you are not required to take legal action, file a protective order, press charges or participate in any specific programs. All services are voluntary and confidential. Learn more by calling 907-276-2700 or toll-free 1-844-375-2742.

The links below go to a site that does not have a quick exit option.

Family Violence Program

Family Services

Behavioral Health

Recognizing Abuse

What is domestic violence?

Domestic violence is when one person maintains control and power over another in a dating, marital or live-in relationship. The means of control can include physical, sexual, emotional and economic abuse, threats and isolation.

• Physical abuse is the use of physical force to cause pain or injury to you. It can involve biting, kicking, slapping, pushing, punching, choking (strangulation), restraining, confinement or using weapons and objects.
• Sexual abuse is forcing someone to participate in unwanted sex, performing unsafe or degrading sexual activities, limiting someone’s sexuality and reproductive choices, and forcing someone to look at pornography or participate in unwanted acts.
• Emotional abuse is the use of words and actions that are threatening, intimidating, or scaring you into doing what they want. It can involve threats to hurt you or your family, the abuse of pets to hurt you, threats to take your children from you if you leave, destruction of objects important to you, deprivation of money, sleep, or affection, harassment at work, name-calling, making fun of you and other verbal abuse. Emotional abuse is perhaps the hardest to detect but is just as serious.

In addition to the definitions listed above, unhealthy and concerning patterns of behavior in relationships also include the following: 

• Dating violence is defined as violence committed by a person who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the victim; and where the existence of such a relationship is determined based on factors such as the length and type of the relationship and the frequency of interaction between the persons involved in the relationship.
• Technological abuse includes the use of technology to control and stalk a partner. Technological abuse can happen to people of all ages, but it is more common among teenagers who use technology and social media to interact in a manner often unmonitored by adults.
• Stalking is a pattern of behavior directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for the person’s safety or the safety of others; or suffer substantial emotional distress.
• Sexual assault refers to sexual contact or behavior that occurs without the explicit consent of the victim.
• Sex trafficking is a type of human trafficking characterized by the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, obtaining, patronizing, or soliciting of a person for the purpose of a commercial sex act. It involves the use of force, fraud or coercion to make an adult engage in commercial sex acts. However, any commercial sexual activity with a minor, even without force, fraud, or coercion, is considered trafficking.

Get Help  

What to do if you believe you have been the victim of a crime:

These links will take you away from the APIA website.

• Report abuse. These tips from The National Domestic Violence Hotline will help you be prepared to work with law enforcement.
• Know how police officers and other Alaska agencies can help. This PDF has information for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking about the role of law enforcement and law-related agencies in addressing abuse.
• Identify accessible resources from the Alaska Department of Law.
• Create a safety plan here or speak to an AWAIC advocate 24 hours a day to assist you at (907) 272-0100.
• If you have been a victim of a sexual assault, this information from STAR can help with the next steps.
• Alaska’s Council on Domestic Violence has resources for victims, families, youth and legal services.
• Register with the VINE system so you are notified if the abuser is released from jail by calling 1-800-247-9763 or visit www.vinelink.com/vinelink/initMap.do

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