VEST serves adults, children, youth, and families throughout Solano County, Sonoma County, and Oakland who have been impacted by domestic violence, sexual violence and abuse, and polyvictimization.
We recognize that violence often involves multiple and overlapping experiences—including intimate partner violence, sexual abuse, stalking, coercive control, psychological abuse, financial abuse, and children's exposure to violence. Our trauma-informed approach responds to the whole survivor and family, not simply one form of victimization.
VEST is especially committed to reaching historically underserved and under-resourced communities where survivors may face barriers to accessing confidential advocacy, culturally responsive support, and life-changing services.
Violence knows no boundaries and can impact anyone regardless of race, ethnicity, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, disability, immigration status, education, or economic circumstances.
Every survivor deserves access to safety, healing, support, and the opportunity to thrive.
Building a Stronger Community Response
In June 2025, VEST made a substantial organizational and financial investment in Vallejo, relocating its headquarters, staff, and operations in direct response to identified service gaps and the growing need for accessible, trauma-informed domestic violence services.
As part of this commitment, VEST established the Ellen-Rose Empowerment Center, creating a dedicated community-based hub where survivors and families can access comprehensive victim services in one supportive environment. Vallejo lacked a comparable community-based hub dedicated to connecting survivors with comprehensive support.
VEST's model goes beyond crisis intervention. Through one organization, survivors and families can access confidential advocacy, individualized safety planning, crisis support, in-house therapy and family therapy, survivor support groups, children and youth programming, educational workshops, case management, and court and legal advocacy.
To further eliminate barriers, VEST advocates also provide services at the Vallejo Courthouse and Vallejo Navigation Center, bringing support closer to survivors navigating the courts and individuals experiencing homelessness or housing instability.
Through the Ellen-Rose Empowerment Center and a trauma-informed Coordinated Community Response (CCR), VEST is building multidisciplinary partnerships and a continuum of support specifically responsive to Vallejo's needs—from identification and crisis intervention to safety, healing, stability, and long-term empowerment.
This is more than a location. It is VEST's investment in building the victim-service infrastructure Vallejo survivors and families deserve.
Who We Are
Victims Empowerment Support Team (VEST) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit victim-service organization founded in 2021 to close critical gaps in services and remove barriers that prevent survivors from accessing safety, support, and healing.
Built on the belief that survivors deserve more than a response to an immediate crisis, VEST provides a trauma-informed, survivor-centered continuum of care designed to support individuals and families from crisis and stabilization through healing, empowerment, and long-term well-being.
Our work extends beyond direct services. VEST is committed to strengthening the systems surrounding survivors through a Coordinated Community Response (CCR), multidisciplinary partnerships, community education, prevention, and advocacy. We work alongside community partners to identify service gaps, strengthen referral pathways, and create more accessible and responsive systems of support.
At the center of everything we do is a simple commitment: meet survivors where they are, honor their choices, reduce barriers, and provide meaningful pathways toward safety, healing, and empowerment.
Who We Serve
Our Mission
VEST’s mission is to minimize violence and improve the quality of life of individuals and families impacted by domestic violence, sexual violence and abuse, and polyvictimization through education, confidential support, advocacy, empowerment, and trauma-informed services.
We work to eliminate barriers to services, increase access to safety and healing resources, strengthen families, and help survivors regain stability, independence, and control over their futures.
Help is Here
Whether you are experiencing domestic violence, sexual violence, or multiple and overlapping forms of victimization, you do not have to navigate it alone.
VEST provides confidential advocacy and support designed around your individual needs.
All survivors deserve to be heard.
All survivors deserve support.
All survivors deserve the opportunity to heal.
About VEST
Values
VEST's core values guide how we serve survivors, operate our organization, and collaborate with our community.
Our Five Core Values:
Integrity | Compassion | Performance | Teamwork | Efficiency
We envision communities where domestic violence, sexual violence, and other forms of interpersonal violence are prevented; survivors and their families can readily access safety, healing, and support; and every individual has the opportunity to live with dignity, independence, and freedom from abuse.
Our Approach
VEST uses a survivor-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive approach that recognizes every survivor's experience is different.
Safety & Stabilization
Our approach includes:
Helping survivors assess immediate needs, develop individualized safety plans, access crisis intervention, and connect with resources that promote safety and stability.
Confidential Advocacy
Providing confidential, survivor-centered advocacy to help individuals understand their options, identify resources, and make informed decisions about their lives.
Healing & Recovery
Connecting survivors and their children with therapy, support groups, peer support, education, and other opportunities that promote healing and long-term well-being.
Family & Youth Support
Community Collaboration
Education & Prevention
Recognizing the impact violence can have across generations and providing support to children, youth, parents, and families affected by violence and trauma.
Working alongside law enforcement, courts, schools, healthcare providers, community organizations, and other partners to improve access to services and strengthen the community response to violence.
Increasing awareness of domestic violence, sexual violence, healthy relationships, coercive control, and other forms of abuse while helping communities recognize and respond to violence earlier.
We approach each case using our CARE method: Compassionate, Accessible, Resourceful, Empathetic.
Our Leadership
The VEST Board of Directors is composed of diverse and ethical leaders dedicated to our mission. They provide governance and support, ensuring that our services effectively meet the needs of the community. Guided by the belief that everyone deserves a life free from abuse, our board works tirelessly to make this vision a reality.
Our Vision
We envision communities where domestic violence, sexual violence, and other forms of interpersonal violence are prevented; survivors and their families can readily access safety, healing, and support; and every individual has the opportunity to live with dignity, independence, and freedom from abuse.
Contact Us
Whether you're seeking support for yourself or a loved one, or you're interested in helping us advance our mission, we'd love to hear from you. Please fill out the form below to learn more about how we can assist with your situation or to explore ways you can contribute to empowering survivors in our community.