The Bridge to Hope

It can be difficult to tell the difference between healthy, unhealthy, and abusive relationships. Although no two relationships are the same, there are signs to pay attention to.

What The Bridge to Hope Offers

Here are some common warning signs of an abusive relationship:

• Extreme jealousy or insecurity

• Checking cell phones, emails, or Facebook without permission

• Asking several questions about where you were, who you were with, etc.

• Frequent belittling and put-downs

• Explosive temper

• Isolation from family and friends

• Possessive and controlling behaviors/attitudes

• Cutting down others, such as past partners, can be a sign they will do the same to you

• Making false accusations

Learn other ways relationships can be unhealthy or abusive by exploring the power and control wheel.

Personal Advocacy

Our Legal,  Domestic Violence, and Family and Youth Advocates meet with victims both on an individual basis as well as facilitating support groups for victims.  They provide not only emotional support, but also information pertaining to health and legal issues, victim rights and compensation, as well as provide referrals to other agencies.

Information and Referrals

The Bridge to Hope maintains and updates all relevant community resource information for both Dunn and Pepin County.  We also train our staff on a regular basis as to what resources are available.  In this way we are able to not only refer our clients to the needed agency, but also to factually answer any type of crisis or information call we receive on our 24/7 telephone line.

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Presentations and Awareness Events

Staff from the Bridge presents to schools, clubs, and civic organizations. We’ve reached more than 2,028 individuals through these avenues. We frequently write informational articles for area newspapers, as well as appearing on T.V. and radio stations.  We have blanketed the area with posters raising awareness of our services, and encouraging victims to seek help.

Domestic Abuse

Sexual

Assault

Sexual assault happens and it’s not the victim’s fault.

Sexual violence is a crime and it includes any act (verbal or physical) which breaks a person’s trust and is sexual in nature.

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1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime. 

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If you are interested in receiving a presentation or awareness event from The Bridge to Hope, please call

715-235-9074 or email for more information.

Sexual violence includes:

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• sexual harassment

• exposure to pornography or private body parts

• rape

• child sexual assault

• incest

• ritual abuse

• martial/partner rape

• date/acquaintance rape

• sexual contact without consent

What should I do if I am sexually assaulted?

• Find a safe location away from the perpetrator. If possible, ask a trusted friend to be with you for moral support.​​

•  Preserve all evidence of the attack. Do not bathe, wash your hands, brush your teeth, eat, or smoke.

•  If you are still in the location at which the crime occurred, do not clean or straighten up or remove anything.

•  Write down all the details you can recall about the attack and the perpetrator.

•  Seek medical care as soon as possible. Even if you do not have any visible physical injuries, you may be at risk of acquiring a sexually transmitted disease. Women may also be at risk for pregnancy.

•  Ask the authorities to contact your local crisis center, which can provide information on the nearest medical facility, and in some instances, send an advocate to accompany you through the evidence collection process.

•  If you suspect you have been drugged, request that a urine sample be collected to preserve evidence.

• Know that what happened was not your fault. Recognize that healing from an attack takes time. Give yourself the time you need and know that it is never too late to get help.

*Information based on the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) website

Human trafficking is the illegal trade of children, women and men through recruitment or abduction, by means of force, fraud, coercion, or debt bondage for the purposes of forced labor or sexual exploitation.

Although slavery is commonly thought to be a thing of the past, human traffickers generate billions of dollars in profits by trapping individuals in horrific situations in the United States and around the world. Human trafficking victims are often forced, through sexual, physical and/or psychological violence, to perform work under slavery-like conditions.

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The situations that sex trafficking victims face vary considerably. Some victims become involved with someone who then manipulates or forces them into prostitution. Others are lured in with false promises of a job, such as modeling or dancing. Some are forced to sell sex by their parents or other family members. They may be involved in a trafficking situation for a few days or weeks, or for years. Under federal law, all minors, under the age of 18, involved in the commercial sex industry are considered trafficked; no consent needed.

The Bridge to Hope can assist victims of human trafficking; victims typically need numerous types of emergency and long-term services. The Bridge to Hope can provide holistic case management assisting the victim with housing and food, needed interpretation services, as well as finding appropriate medical care, mental health treatment and/or substance abuse treatment. The Bridge to Hope will assist the victim with any legal concern and/or immigration issues.

If you believe you are the victim of a trafficking situation or may have information about a potential trafficking situation, call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) at 1-888-373-7888.

NHTRC is a national, toll-free hotline, with specialists available to answer calls from anywhere in the country, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year related to potential trafficking victims, suspicious behaviors, and/or locations where trafficking is suspected to occur.

You can also submit a tip to the NHTRC online.

Human

Trafficking