Newport County Womens Resource Center

THE MISSION OF THE WOMEN'S RESOURCE CENTER IS TO LEAD DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION THROUGH THE EMPOWERMENT OF INDIVIDUALS AND THE COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING ADVOCACY, EDUCATION AND SUPPORT SERVICES.

THE NEWPORT HEALTH EQUITY ZONE WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2015 AS THE WRC'S PREVENTION DEPARTMENT. NHEZ OPERATES AS A CITY-WIDE COALITION MOBILIZING RESIDENTS AND RESOURCES OF THE BROADWAY AND NORTH END NEIGHBORHOODS TO MAKE NEWPORT A PLACE WHERE EVERYONE CAN THRIVE. COMMITTED TO INNOVATIVE, RESIDENT-DRIVEN STRATEGIES THAT ADDRESS HEALTH DISPARITIES, THE NEWPORT HEZ USES A RACIAL-EQUITY LENS IN ALL ITS WORK. OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, WE HAVE ORGANIZED NHEZ RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO ADDRESS ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS - ALSO KNOWN AS THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH - CONTRIBUTING TO POOR HEALTH IN THE HEZ NEIGHBORHOODS

THE FAMILY VIOLENCE OPTION ADVOCACY PROGRAM (FVOAP) ASSISTS THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES' (DHS) CLIENTS WHO ARE VICTIMS/SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. THE FVOAP WORKS WITH THE DHS, THE RHODE ISLAND COALITION AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE (RICADV), RI WORKS (RI'S CASH ASSISTANCE PROGRAM), AND THE CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (CCAP). THROUGH THE FVOAP PROGRAM, CLIENTS MAY BE ABLE TO OBTAIN A WAIVER FROM CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS OF THE RI WORKS PROGRAM OR CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. THE FVOAP ALSO PROVIDES VICTIMS/SURVIVORS WITH OTHER KINDS OF ASSISTANCE SUCH AS IMMEDIATE CRISIS COUNSELING AND SAFETY PLANNING. LAST YEAR, FVOAP PROVIDED 1,329 SESSIONS TO 377 CLIENTS THROUGHOUT RHODE ISLAND.

TRANSITIONAL HOUSING - THIS CRUCIAL PROGRAM EMPOWERS SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND THEIR CHILDREN TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY WHILE CONTINUING TO BENEFIT FROM CASE MANAGEMENT AND OTHER SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. TRANSITIONAL HOUSING FOSTERS FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE, SERVING AS A CRITICAL BRIDGE FOR SURVIVORS SEEKING TO LIVE FREE FROM VIOLENCE. ALL TRANSITIONAL APARTMENTS ARE PROVIDED FREE TO CLIENTS FOR UP TO TWO YEARS. THE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM FINANCES 6 APARTMENTS LOCATED IN BRISTOL, R.I. LAST YEAR,12 ADULTS AND 16 CHILDREN SPENT 5,498 NIGHTS IN TRANSITIONAL HOUSING. WRC ALSO PROVIDES EMERGENCY SHELTER SERVICES TO FAMILIES IN CRISIS, PROVIDING INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT AND WRAP-AROUND SERVICES TO THESE CLIENTS. RESIDENTIAL CLIENTS RECEIVE A MYRIAD OF SUPPORTS TO HELP THEM LIVE LIVES FREE OF VIOLENCE. EXAMPLES OF THESE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES INCLUDE EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT SERVICES, FINANCIAL LITERACY, GOAL SETTING, AND INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY COUNSELING. WRC ALSO PROVIDES EMERGENCY SHELTER SERVICES TO FAMILIES IN CRISIS, PROVIDING INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT AND WRAP-AROUND SERVICES TO THESE CLIENTS. RESIDENTIAL CLIENTS RECEIVE A MYRIAD OF SUPPORTS TO HELP THEM LIVE LIVES FREE OF VIOLENCE. EXAMPLES OF THESE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES INCLUDE EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT SERVICES, FINANCIAL LITERACY, GOAL SETTING, AND INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY COUNSELING.