APS investigates abuse, neglect, and exploitation of adults who are elderly or have disabilities and who live in the community. Any adult who has a disability or who is age 65 or older that is in a state of abuse, neglect, or exploitation may be eligible to receive adult protective services.

Victims of abuse, neglect, or exploitation may get short-term help with shelter, home repairs, food, transportation, managing money, medical care, home healthcare services, and mental health services.

Child Protective Services responsibilities include:

• Providing services to children and families in their own homes.
• Placing children in foster care.
• Providing services to help youth in foster care successfully transition to adulthood.
• Helping children get adopted.

Child Protective Services (CPS) becomes involved with children and families when they are referred by the DFPS Investigations division, which investigates allegations of child abuse and neglect.

Click here to learn more.

APS investigates abuse, neglect, and exploitation of adults who are elderly or have disabilities and who live in the community. Any adult who has a disability or who is age 65 or older that is in a state of abuse, neglect, or exploitation may be eligible to receive adult protective services.

Victims of abuse, neglect, or exploitation may get short-term help with shelter, home repairs, food, transportation, managing money, medical care, home healthcare services, and mental health services.

Child Protective Services responsibilities include:

• Providing services to children and families in their own homes.
• Placing children in foster care.
• Providing services to help youth in foster care successfully transition to adulthood.
• Helping children get adopted.

Child Protective Services (CPS) becomes involved with children and families when they are referred by the DFPS Investigations division, which investigates allegations of child abuse and neglect.

Click here to learn more.

• 24-hour emergency shelter for all victims
• Residents can receive all services offered
• Residents work toward self-sufficiency away from violence or homelessness

Men and Women of all ages.

24/7 crisis line with trained advocates.

Advocates offer support, information, and referrals during crises.

Accompany clients to medical, legal, or criminal service providers.

Here’s how Safe Place works:

Step One – A young person enters a Safe Place and asks for help.

Step Two – The site employee finds a comfortable place for the youth to wait while they call the licensed Safe Place agency. For the greater San Antonio area that is Roy Maas Youth Alternatives (RMYA).

Step Three – An RMYA staff member will talk with the youth to get more information and explain that an SAPD officer can escort them to the RMYA Bridge Emergency shelter.  If the child is agreeable, the RMYA staff will contact SAPD to transport the youth to the shelter. 

Step Four – Once at the Bridge, direct-care staff and counselors meet with the youth and provide support. Agency staff ensures the youth and their families receive the help and professional services they need.

This program is for youth under the age of 18 in need of immediate help and safety.

Free

Here’s how Safe Place works:

Step One – A young person enters a Safe Place and asks for help.

Step Two – The site employee finds a comfortable place for the youth to wait while they call the licensed Safe Place agency. For the greater San Antonio area that is Roy Maas Youth Alternatives (RMYA).

Step Three – An RMYA staff member will talk with the youth to get more information and explain that an SAPD officer can escort them to the RMYA Bridge Emergency shelter.  If the child is agreeable, the RMYA staff will contact SAPD to transport the youth to the shelter. 

Step Four – Once at the Bridge, direct-care staff and counselors meet with the youth and provide support. Agency staff ensures the youth and their families receive the help and professional services they need.

This program is for youth under the age of 18 in need of immediate help and safety.

Free

A safe place to stay for women, children, and men.

Even if you have a safe place to stay, you can still receive free services through the nonresidential program.

Services are provided at the Shelter, or an advocate is available to meet with you in a safe location in Gonzales, Karnes, or Wilson counties and the Schertz/Cibolo area.

Eligibility Requirements: Domestic Violence or Sexual Assault in the last 30 days.

Free and Confidential services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault 1-800-834-2033.  Advocates are available 24/7 to offer services, information, and support.  Calls may be anonymous.

National Domestic Violence Hotline provides essential tools and support to help survivors of domestic violence so they can live their lives free of abuse.

Contacts to The Hotline can expect highly-trained, expert advocates to offer free, confidential, and compassionate support, crisis intervention information, education, and referral services in over 200 languages.

Here’s how Safe Place works:

Step One – A young person enters a Safe Place and asks for help.

Step Two – The site employee finds a comfortable place for the youth to wait while they call the licensed Safe Place agency. For the greater San Antonio area that is Roy Maas Youth Alternatives (RMYA).

Step Three – An RMYA staff member will talk with the youth to get more information and explain that an SAPD officer can escort them to the RMYA Bridge Emergency shelter.  If the child is agreeable, the RMYA staff will contact SAPD to transport the youth to the shelter. 

Step Four – Once at the Bridge, direct-care staff and counselors meet with the youth and provide support. Agency staff ensures the youth and their families receive the help and professional services they need.

This program is for youth under the age of 18 in need of immediate help and safety.

Free

APS investigates abuse, neglect, and exploitation of adults who are elderly or have disabilities and who live in the community. Any adult who has a disability or who is age 65 or older that is in a state of abuse, neglect, or exploitation may be eligible to receive adult protective services.

Victims of abuse, neglect, or exploitation may get short-term help with shelter, home repairs, food, transportation, managing money, medical care, home healthcare services, and mental health services.

Child Protective Services responsibilities include:

• Providing services to children and families in their own homes.
• Placing children in foster care.
• Providing services to help youth in foster care successfully transition to adulthood.
• Helping children get adopted.

Child Protective Services (CPS) becomes involved with children and families when they are referred by the DFPS Investigations division, which investigates allegations of child abuse and neglect.

Click here to learn more.

Support Group

Like a 12-step program, HEART helps you with issues of self-esteem and self-sufficiency while examining your choices and encouraging healthy relationships.

It is also referred to as the Domestic Violence Recovery Class.

We provide services to clients in Gonzales, Guadalupe, Karnes, and Wilson counties. However, survivors who live outside these areas are not turned away if they contact us for help.

FREE

Legal Advocacy:

Services include assistance with applying for an Emergency or Permanent Protective Order; Crime Victims Compensation, which can help with crime-related costs such as relocation and housing, daycare, medical expenses, crime-related travel, and other expenses if eligible; assistance with divorce and child custody matters; accompaniment to court; and immigration issues – assistance with the process of obtaining legal status. Your batterer or law enforcement cannot have you deported under the protection of the Violence Against Women Act.

Victim Advocacy:

Advocates will listen to your unique needs and inform you of your options and available resources. With your permission, advocates will speak to others on your behalf, such as law enforcement, healthcare professionals, prosecutors, and housing.

Advocacy is available 24/7 through our Crisis Hotline and Accompaniment services. Advocacy is also available on a walk-in basis during regular business hours. Please call us for hours and location information.

FREE

Specifically for families who have experienced domestic violence. Covers the dynamics of abuse, effects on our parenting, the emotional needs of children witnessing abuse, parenting and communication styles, safety planning, and more. Approved by CPS as Protective Parenting.

We provide services to clients in Gonzales, Guadalupe, Karnes, and Wilson counties. However, survivors who live outside these areas are not turned away if they contact us for help.

FREE

Here’s how Safe Place works:

Step One – A young person enters a Safe Place and asks for help.

Step Two – The site employee finds a comfortable place for the youth to wait while they call the licensed Safe Place agency. For the greater San Antonio area that is Roy Maas Youth Alternatives (RMYA).

Step Three – An RMYA staff member will talk with the youth to get more information and explain that an SAPD officer can escort them to the RMYA Bridge Emergency shelter.  If the child is agreeable, the RMYA staff will contact SAPD to transport the youth to the shelter. 

Step Four – Once at the Bridge, direct-care staff and counselors meet with the youth and provide support. Agency staff ensures the youth and their families receive the help and professional services they need.

This program is for youth under the age of 18 in need of immediate help and safety.

Free

Here’s how Safe Place works:

Step One – A young person enters a Safe Place and asks for help.

Step Two – The site employee finds a comfortable place for the youth to wait while they call the licensed Safe Place agency. For the greater San Antonio area that is Roy Maas Youth Alternatives (RMYA).

Step Three – An RMYA staff member will talk with the youth to get more information and explain that an SAPD officer can escort them to the RMYA Bridge Emergency shelter.  If the child is agreeable, the RMYA staff will contact SAPD to transport the youth to the shelter. 

Step Four – Once at the Bridge, direct-care staff and counselors meet with the youth and provide support. Agency staff ensures the youth and their families receive the help and professional services they need.

This program is for youth under the age of 18 in need of immediate help and safety.

Free

Here’s how Safe Place works:

Step One – A young person enters a Safe Place and asks for help.

Step Two – The site employee finds a comfortable place for the youth to wait while they call the licensed Safe Place agency. For the greater San Antonio area that is Roy Maas Youth Alternatives (RMYA).

Step Three – An RMYA staff member will talk with the youth to get more information and explain that an SAPD officer can escort them to the RMYA Bridge Emergency shelter.  If the child is agreeable, the RMYA staff will contact SAPD to transport the youth to the shelter. 

Step Four – Once at the Bridge, direct-care staff and counselors meet with the youth and provide support. Agency staff ensures the youth and their families receive the help and professional services they need.

This program is for youth under the age of 18 in need of immediate help and safety.

Free.

Here’s how Safe Place works:

Step One – A young person enters a Safe Place and asks for help.

Step Two – The site employee finds a comfortable place for the youth to wait while they call the licensed Safe Place agency. For the greater San Antonio area that is Roy Maas Youth Alternatives (RMYA).

Step Three – An RMYA staff member will talk with the youth to get more information and explain that an SAPD officer can escort them to the RMYA Bridge Emergency shelter.  If the child is agreeable, the RMYA staff will contact SAPD to transport the youth to the shelter. 

Step Four – Once at the Bridge, direct-care staff and counselors meet with the youth and provide support. Agency staff ensures the youth and their families receive the help and professional services they need.

This program is for youth under the age of 18 in need of immediate help and safety.

Free

Here’s how Safe Place works:

Step One – A young person enters a Safe Place and asks for help.

Step Two – The site employee finds a comfortable place for the youth to wait while they call the licensed Safe Place agency. For the greater San Antonio area that is Roy Maas Youth Alternatives (RMYA).

Step Three – An RMYA staff member will talk with the youth to get more information and explain that an SAPD officer can escort them to the RMYA Bridge Emergency shelter.  If the child is agreeable, the RMYA staff will contact SAPD to transport the youth to the shelter. 

Step Four – Once at the Bridge, direct-care staff and counselors meet with the youth and provide support. Agency staff ensures the youth and their families receive the help and professional services they need.

This program is for youth under the age of 18 in need of immediate help and safety.

Free

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) welcomes all Veterans, families, caregivers, and survivor beneficiaries, including diverse gender identities and sexual orientations. “LGBTQ+” refers to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer identities. The “+” sign captures identities beyond LGBTQ, including but not limited to questioning, pansexual, asexual, agender, gender diverse, nonbinary, gender-neutral, and other identities. LGBTQ+ Veterans have faced stigma and discrimination, which can affect health. As a healthcare institution, we need to make sure that LGBTQ+ Veterans know that they are welcome at Veterans Health Administration (VHA).

There is an LGBTQ+ Veteran Care Coordinator  (LGBTQ+ VCC) at every facility to help you get the care you need. VHA policies require that your health care is delivered in an affirming and inclusive environment and that VHA employees respect your identity. Contact the LGBTQ+ VCC at your nearest facility. 

VA Health Care includes, among other services:

• Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy
• Substance use/alcohol treatment
• Tobacco use treatment
• Treatment and prevention of sexually transmitted infections PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) and PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) for Veterans at risk for HIV.
• Intimate partner violence reduction and treatment of after effects
• Military Sexual Trauma screening and treatment of after effects
• Suicide prevention services. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, contact the Veterans Crisis Line to receive free, confidential support and crisis intervention available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Dial 988 then Press 1, text 838255 or chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat.
• Whole Health
• Cancer screening, prevention and treatment 
• Virtual Mental Health Care: Veterans can connect with a VA mental health provider through a computer or mobile device from the comfort of their homes or at their nearest VA health facility.
• Infertility: VA is committed to helping Veterans navigate challenges that may arise from issues with fertility and the conception of a child.

To view the services provided for LGBTQ+ Veterans, click here.

Here’s how Safe Place works:

Step One – A young person enters a Safe Place and asks for help.

Step Two – The site employee finds a comfortable place for the youth to wait while they call the licensed Safe Place agency. For the greater San Antonio area that is Roy Maas Youth Alternatives (RMYA).

Step Three – An RMYA staff member will talk with the youth to get more information and explain that an SAPD officer can escort them to the RMYA Bridge Emergency shelter.  If the child is agreeable, the RMYA staff will contact SAPD to transport the youth to the shelter. 

Step Four – Once at the Bridge, direct-care staff and counselors meet with the youth and provide support. Agency staff ensures the youth and their families receive the help and professional services they need.

This program is for youth under the age of 18 in need of immediate help and safety.

Free

Here’s how Safe Place works:

Step One – A young person enters a Safe Place and asks for help.

Step Two – The site employee finds a comfortable place for the youth to wait while they call the licensed Safe Place agency. For the greater San Antonio area that is Roy Maas Youth Alternatives (RMYA).

Step Three – An RMYA staff member will talk with the youth to get more information and explain that an SAPD officer can escort them to the RMYA Bridge Emergency shelter.  If the child is agreeable, the RMYA staff will contact SAPD to transport the youth to the shelter. 

Step Four – Once at the Bridge, direct-care staff and counselors meet with the youth and provide support. Agency staff ensures the youth and their families receive the help and professional services they need.

This program is for youth under the age of 18 in need of immediate help and safety.

Free

Our Emergency Children's Shelter provides safety for children who are removed from their homes. Our shelter provides the foundation for healing from abuse and neglect.

We see children at the lowest point in their young lives.  They are removed from the only home they have known; they are confused, sad, angry, and unsure of where they are going. At Boysville’s Emergency Children’s Shelter, children are welcomed into a home-like setting with a large common room and dining room, semi-private bedrooms, and bath and recreational areas.  

Most children arrive only with the clothing they are wearing. Upon arrival, each child receives new clothing and shoes. The emergency children’s shelter provides around-the-clock-awake staff for maximum safety and support. Children living in the shelter will attend a school in the Judson Independent School District unless otherwise directed by the court system. In some cases, children will remain at the school they attended before being placed at Boysville to reduce the number of school disruptions.

Boysville’s Emergency Shelter is known for accepting large sibling groups so they may stay together in times of stress.

Lovelace Emergency Cottage cares for infants and toddlers.

Ellison Emergency Cottage cares for children and teens, 5-17.

Click here for more information.

For placement into the shelter, the following is required:

• Birth certificate
• Social Security card
• Immunization record
• Withdrawal forms from school
• Documents pertaining to custody or guardianship

Here’s how Safe Place works:

Step One – A young person enters a Safe Place and asks for help.

Step Two – The site employee finds a comfortable place for the youth to wait while they call the licensed Safe Place agency. For the greater San Antonio area that is Roy Maas Youth Alternatives (RMYA).

Step Three – An RMYA staff member will talk with the youth to get more information and explain that an SAPD officer can escort them to the RMYA Bridge Emergency shelter.  If the child is agreeable, the RMYA staff will contact SAPD to transport the youth to the shelter. 

Step Four – Once at the Bridge, direct-care staff and counselors meet with the youth and provide support. Agency staff ensures the youth and their families receive the help and professional services they need.

This program is for youth under the age of 18 in need of immediate help and safety.

Free

Here’s how Safe Place works:

Step One – A young person enters a Safe Place and asks for help.

Step Two – The site employee finds a comfortable place for the youth to wait while they call the licensed Safe Place agency. For the greater San Antonio area that is Roy Maas Youth Alternatives (RMYA).

Step Three – An RMYA staff member will talk with the youth to get more information and explain that an SAPD officer can escort them to the RMYA Bridge Emergency shelter.  If the child is agreeable, the RMYA staff will contact SAPD to transport the youth to the shelter. 

Step Four – Once at the Bridge, direcct-care staff and counselors meet with the youth and provide support. Agency staff ensures the youth and their families receive the help and professional services they need.

This program is for youth under the age of 18 in need of immediate help and safety.

Free

Here’s how Safe Place works:

Step One – A young person enters a Safe Place and asks for help.

Step Two – The site employee finds a comfortable place for the youth to wait while they call the licensed Safe Place agency. For the greater San Antonio area that is Roy Maas Youth Alternatives (RMYA).

Step Three – An RMYA staff member will talk with the youth to get more information and explain that an SAPD officer can escort them to the RMYA Bridge Emergency shelter.  If the child is agreeable, the RMYA staff will contact SAPD to transport the youth to the shelter. 

Step Four – Once at the Bridge, direct-care staff and counselors meet with the youth and provide support. Agency staff ensures the youth and their families receive the help and professional services they need.

This program is for youth under the age of 18 in need of immediate help and safety..

Free

Ransomed Life offers Trauma-Informed Counseling Services for at-risk, sexually exploited youth and their families.

Our counseling services are the focus and key to the healing of each youth. Ransomed Life has Licensed Professional Counselors that develop a specialized youth-centered plan for each client and their families. 

Mentoring is part of the therapeutic process and healing. When a client is ready to be paired with a mentor, our counselors make an internal referral to our Mentor Program.

If you or someone you are close to is a survivor of Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking (DMST) and would like to arrange one-on-one, family, or group counseling, click here.

Referral Eligibility for Counseling Services: 

• Age 11-24
• Bexar County and surrounding county residence 
• At-risk youth OR confirmed sexual exploitation

To refer a client, click here.

As the leading experts in Child Sex Trafficking education in San Antonio, Ransomed Life provides both professional training and general awareness presentations for our community and surrounding areas.

With the launch of our NO CHILD SOLD Prevention Initiative, our Community Awareness Team is on a mission to reach as many adults and youth as possible! Through the power of education, we can help prevent further sexual exploitation of children/teens by creating a more watchful community.

The more people we teach about the risks and realities of minor sex trafficking, the more victims and potential victims, we can identify and protect.

Our focus is on educators, students, and parents, but our goal is to open the eyes of all adults to create a more vigilant city - full of child advocates who will take a stand with us against child sexual exploitation!

Ransomed Life now offers on-demand presentations that can be accessed via our website, in addition to in-person and virtual presentations.

To arrange for a speaker at your event, click here.

Please give two weeks' notice for scheduling purposes.