About Division of Alternatives to Domestic Violence

OUR VISION

At Alternatives to Domestic Violence (ADV), we envision a Bergen County where all persons, families, and communities are able to access and thrive in safe, equitable, and autonomous relationships.

OUR MISSION

For over 42 years, ADV’s team of dedicated professionals have provided critical non-residential support services to Bergen County residents impacted and affected by abuse in their relationships.

We strive to partner with individuals and groups to prevent and eliminate domestic violence, dating abuse, and other forms of intimate partner violence, through comprehensive service approaches that strategically address the multifaceted causes and effects of abuse in diverse communities, such as prevention education, crisis intervention, legal advocacy, evidence-based counseling programs, and coordinated community responses to violence.

Appropriate clients to refer to ADV are Bergen County residents involved in a domestic violence situation, whether as a survivor or person who uses force. Most services do not require a fee. Those that do are affordable and based on a client’s ability to pay.

ADV’s Commitment to Inclusion

Our Division welcomes everyone –and we open our doors to individuals who reach out to us from different cultures, race and ethnicities, from a variety of religious backgrounds, folks with diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, folks with hidden or visible disabilities. It is our hope to provide you with the resources you need, and if not, guide you in the right direction and advocate on your behalf.

Many of our services are readily available in English, Spanish, and Korean. For all other languages, interpretation services are available to better assist you.

Muchos de nuestros servicios están disponibles en inglés, español y coreano. Para todos los demás idiomas, los servicios de interpretación están disponibles para ayudarlos mejor.

많은 서비스가 영어, 스페인어 및 한국어로 제공됩니다. 다른 모든 언어의 경우 더 나은 지원을 위해 통역 서비스를 이용할 수 있습니다.

ADV’s Core Values & Beliefs

ADV is committed to fostering a survivor-led and trauma-informed approach to services through our core belief that everyone deserves to thrive in relationships free from all forms of abuse, exploitation, and violence.

We stand by the following core values and beliefs.

Meet Our Team

Division Director
Marisa Heluk
mheluk@bergencountynj.gov

Clinical Program Director
Mariah Springer
mspringer@bergencountynj.gov

Community Education & Outreach Coordinator
Sian Millard
Smillard@bergencountynj.gov

Deputy Director
Elizabeth Ostuni
Eostuni@bergencountynj.gov

Crisis Unit Supervisor
Michelle Cardenas
mcardenas@bergencountynj.gov

Training Technician
Laura Melendez
Lmelendez@bergencountynj.gov

Legal Advocate & Counselor
Jacinth Orlando
Jcorlando@bergencountynj.gov

Bilingual Crisis Coordinator
Juan Carlos Morel 
jmorel@bergencountynj.gov

Training Technician 
Sophia Traphagen 
Straphagen@bergencountynj.gov 

Legal Advocate
Victoria Wel
vwel@bergencountynj.gov

Survivor Services Counselor
Ada Sang-Mata
asangmata@bergencountynj.gov

Survivor Services Consultant
Susan McLaughlin
sjmclaughlin@bergencountynj.gov

Housing Counselor
Maggie Merlo
mmerlo@bergencountynj.gov

Survivor Services Consultant
Cathy Tanis
ctanis@bergencountynj.gov

Survivor Services Consultant
Sohee Lee
SHLee@bergencountynj.gov

Survivor Services Consultant
Pam Nutes
pnutes@bergencountynj.gov

Crisis Hotline Specialist
Maria Alejandra Hilario
mhilario@bergencountynj.gov

Crisis Hotline Specialist
Esperanza Gonzalez
egonzalez@bergencountynj.gov

Contact Us

Marisa Heluk

Director

Division of Alternatives to Domestic Violence

One Bergen County Plaza  • 2nd Floor • Hackensack, NJ 07601-7076
Email: ADV@bergencountynj.gov
24-hour Crisis Hotline: 201-336-7575 • Fax: 201-336-7555

Hours:
Monday – Thursday: 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Friday: 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.