Join with us to Honor Vivian and Sustain her Legacy   A young social worker in Orange County in the late 1970’s, Vivian Clecak was stunned by the stories she heard of women being abused in their own homes.  Determined to make a difference, she co-founded Human Options in 1981 and has passionately led the organization for 34 years. From the earliest days, Vivian has been a pioneer in effectively responding to domestic violence issues in our community.  Accomplishments include the following: In 1984 Human Options became the first organization in Orange County to provide relationship violence prevention programs to high school students. In 1993 Human Options was first to…

#PledgePurple this October to Stand Against Domestic Violence Nearly 3 out of 4 Americans know someone who is or has been a victim of domestic violence. Often thought of as a family issue, it is really a social, business, and health priority that impacts our entire community. Join us to recognize National Domestic Violence Awareness Month this October and stand up for those who have no voice. How to #PledgePurple this October Help Us Spread the Word Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn and share our posts Change your profile picture for October to this Wear purple on October 23rd and post your pictures on social media Use our…

A Special Message from Human Options Founding CEO, Vivian Clecak   Dear friends, I am writing to let you know that I will be retiring from my role as the founding CEO of Human Options on January 30, 2016. It has been my privilege to be with this organization for so long. As a young social worker, I was stunned by the stories I heard from women who were being abused in their own homes. Determined to make a difference, I worked with Carolyn Churm, Margaret Thoreau, and Anne Wright to found Human Options in 1981. Over the years, Human Options has grown into a multi-service organization that has changed…

For women and children who escaped abuse perpetrated mostly by males, it was an oddity to see twenty adolescent boys standing in the middle of our shelter on a sunny Saturday in March. The shelter is in a confidential location and isn’t visited by very many people, but for three days straight we welcomed an influx of young men and construction workers who generously donated their time and all of the supplies to make one outdated unit feel like a real home. The National League of Young Men (NLYM) is comprised of young men in grades 9-12 and allows mothers to promote leadership development through community service with their sons….

Nearly 3 out of 4 Americans know someone who is or has been a victim of domestic violence (DV). Often thought of as a family issue, it is really a social, business and health priority that impacts our entire community. To break the cycle, we must end the stigma associated with DV and help communities learn to identify and support victims. Human Options has been an innovative leader in this area since 1984 when we began working in high schools to educate teens. Peer culture is powerful. Giving teens the knowledge & ability to stand against DV is the first step in shifting our culture of silence. Last October we…

Human Option’s community educator asked the class to describe a healthy dating relationship. A girl in the second row raised her hand, “My Boyfriend lets me be me.  He likes my friends.  He gives me space when I want it.  He doesn’t put me down.  He likes me”. But some girls have a different story to tell…..  . Her name was Molly.  She was 18 years old.  She was a pretty girl, soft spoken.  She had come to my office that day to tell me her story. And even though what had happened to her had ended a year earlier, she had to stop now and then and cry.  She…